I’m a disabled pageant queen raising awareness about cerebral palsy!

One of the reasons I had to leave school was because of negative attitudes. Through primary school, I used a lot of different aids and was constantly in and out of school. I experienced bullying, and I felt a bit like an alien. Other children just didn’t understand and that could be quite hard.

Then in high school, children would take my splints out of my bag and throw them around the classroom. I was so used to taking my splints on and off as needed, but I was made to feel wrong or weird for it. One time, they even hit me with them.

"People need to understand that we’re here."

I think part of the reason people act like this is because they don’t understand. It would make such a positive impact to educate people and make disabled people more visible.

That’s why, when I competed in Miss Great Britain, I proudly walked onto the stage with my aids. This needed to be shown to everybody. People need to understand that we’re here, we’re part of this world, and that we can still do amazing things.

I made history as the first disabled winner of Miss Black Country, and again as the first person with cerebral palsy to be in Miss Great Britain. It feels amazing to be the first, but I hope what I’ve started continues on. I hope it encourages other disabled people to follow their dreams.

"I want to show that disability can be spoken about."

Nowadays, I feel very confident in my disability, using my aids, and speaking about my experiences. It’s a part of me and I’m proud to be who I am.

But it’s not all just for myself. I do it for everyone else, too. I want to show that disability can be spoken about positively and openly. It doesn’t have to be something negative. 

I never want anyone else to feel how I did back in school. I want them to have confidence in who they are, and really embrace it.

Our CP Network is a space for people with lived experience of cerebral palsy. If you're living with CP, are 18 or over, and would like to learn more, visit our Network page.