As Miss Great Britain celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2025, the search for the face of South Yorkshire has begun.
But for the first time, regional pageant organisers are looking for two women to represent our county at the national finals.
The South Yorkshire heat will include the new ‘Ms’ category for women aged 31 to 44 alongside the ‘Miss’ category for women under 30.
Pageant co-director, Jill Faulker, says they have introduced the older category after seeing the inspirational impact of last year’s national finalists. And she hopes to welcome women from all walks of life who want to feel empowered, showcase their strengths, and be part of an unforgettable journey.
“Many women are much more confident as they get older and have a lot more to say. It was uplifting to see so many women over 30 involved.
“It wasn’t just about the crown – they’d made a full year of it, meeting other like-minded people and using their platform in a positive way. One of the winners was in her 50s and spoke about menopause and how she wasn’t letting it stop her from doing what she enjoys,” says Jill.
Now in it’s 80th year, Miss Great Britain is the UK’s oldest and most prestigious pageant. And it’s more inclusive than ever. Along with the new age categories, there are no rules about previous experience, marital status, dress size, or whether you have children or not.
“Every woman is what we’re looking for. This pageant is no longer just about looks and vital statistics like it was 80 years ago. Personality and being passionate about your cause are more important. We look for women who embody modern feminism. Women who have strength, intelligence, ambition, integrity and compassion,” says Jill.
Jill has vast experience on the pageantry scene. Her daughter and co-director Jaime-Lee competed for many years after being scouted at 19. She’s taken part in national and global competitions like Miss Universe, Miss Scuba International, Miss England, and Miss South Yorkshire.
The South Yorkshire final will be held on Saturday 7th June at the Holiday Inn Rotherham. Finalists will compete in various rounds including fashion and eveningwear catwalk shows, an interview, and optional beachwear.
Jill and Jaime-Lee will be joined on the judging panel by reigning Miss South Yorkshire, Megan Clough.
Megan hadn’t competed in pageants when she applied for last year’s competition. The 28-year-old bridal stylist from Sheffield never considered herself the pageant ‘type’ but went on to be first runner up in the national final.
Beauty pageants have evolved dramatically over the last 80 years.
Miss Great Britain started in 1945 as a way of pulling in tourists to seaside towns like Morecambe, Blackpool, Cleethorpes and Skegness who were competing for holidaymakers.
After a swimwear parade, Lydia Read, an 18-year-old civil service typist was crowned the inaugural winner. She won a cup, a swimsuit and a cash prize of seven guineas – about £7.50.
The prize money increased to £1,000 in the 1950s, attracting scores of young women who wanted to further their careers in fashion or beauty or were lured by fame and fortune.
And it also brought in huge audiences. Beauty contests were a major tourist attraction of the year, second only to the Illuminations.
But with the rise of international travel, a deal was struck in 1971 with ITV to televise the final. It was filmed in Morecambe, adding daywear and eveningwear rounds to appease the millions of viewers at home.
One of South Yorkshire’s most familiar faces from the 1970s was Christine Owen from Sheffield. She finished first runner-up in 1975 and went on to host the popular ITV quiz show Sale of the Century.
BBC bought the TV rights to it in 1981, televising it until 1985. Sheffield’s Jill Saxby made history as the last Miss Great Britain to be crowned on TV.
With entry numbers dwindling due to better career opportunities for young women, the competition was put up for sale in 1989. It was bought by a businessman in the early 1990s and a resurgence followed throughout the Millenium. Former Miss Great Britain, Saffron Hart, was appointed a new director with Matt Elliot in 2022, taking the pageant to another level with regional heats across the UK.
Sheffield’s Ashley Powell is one of the most successful beauty queens of the modern era. Not only did she win the Miss Great Britain title in 2013, she won Miss Scuba UK, Miss International UK and Universal Woman GB, making her the most decorated Miss Great Britain in history.
Whoever wins Miss South Yorkshire 2025 will compete at the national finals in Leicester in October. The overall winners’ prize package will include a trip to India with this year’s chosen charity, A-Sisterhood, to meet acid attack survivors.
Applications for Miss and Ms Great Britain South Yorkshire close on Wednesday 7th May. To apply, fill in this form, or find out more by emailing misssouthyorkshire@gmail.com or checking out Facebook and Instagram.
