We spoke to the Leeds student and Miss Worcestershire 2017 finalist who is challenging beauty stereotypes

Leeds Maths student Amber Cartlidge, who is also known as 'Miss Worcestershire 2017' is challenging beauty pageant stereotypes and has revealed that being among the top 50 regional finalists has actually boosted her confidence, surprising even her own assumptions.

Amber especially highlighted the controversial and 'slightly outdated' swimwear round and revealed how it helped her confidence more than anything else, despite her scoliosis diagnosis. "I have scoliosis" she shared, "so I have three curves in my spine which makes my body all a but wonky. I've known about it since I was 14, so I'm pretty much over all that now. One place I still feel slightly uncomfortable in a bikini is on a beach, so the thought of going on stage in one was terrifying, but it was actually just so much fun".

The strongest message Amber is sharing from her experience as a "Miss Great Britain" finalist is that there really is no such thing as a "perfect body" and that beauty can come in all shapes and sizes. This is what she believes gives you confidence, especially in the swimwear round. She shared: "just the fact that I accomplished something that really scared me of course gave me some confidence.

But more specifically, when you're on stage you just feel amazing and of course in the evening gown round, part of that is due to the fact that you spent a lot (probably too much) on a gorgeous dress. But being able to stand on a stage in front on hundreds of people in just a swimming costume and feel beautiful is amazing. Girls of all shapes and sizes compete so it really shows you that there is no "right way" for your body to be".

Another stereotype which Amber is challenging is the relationship between all the pageant contestants, which is stereotypically incredibly  competitive.  However,  Amber highlighted "My relationship with the other contestants is amazing.

"We all have a big WhatsApp group which we used before to pageant to discuss things like what we wearing, but now some of the girls have also arranged to some fundraising things together. Everyone is incredibly supportive, offering to lend shoes, jewellery and dresses to each other. The finals were a two-day event and we had two nights in the hotel, my roommate had been competing in pageants for years and she gave me so much advice and would say so many encouraging things.

There was an after party after the final and everyone was on such a high from the event so it was so much fun. Our WhatsApp group is still very active, on some days there's hundreds of messages to read through if I haven't been active for a while. Some of the girls are even planning a holiday together next year but I don't think I'll have the time to go unfortunately".