Hornchurch mum breaks barriers with Miss Great Britain success

Rajni Singh, who said she always wanted to be a fashion model when she was younger, came fourth-runner-up at the Miss Great Britain competition in Leicester on October 21. 

Ms Singh told the Recorder that she is the only woman born in south Asia to have got so far in the competition, and that she wants her success to show others in her position that “you can be the author of your own story”. 

Competing in the Ms Great Britain category for participants aged 31 to 44, Ms Singh described how competitors went through interviews with judges and assessments of their confidence and appearance involving them dressed in both swimwear and eveningwear over the two-day event. 

Ms Singh said it took 'big, big courage' to enter and compete at this year's Miss Great Britain event (Image: Chris Perfect)

Ms Singh, who is trained as a practice manager in primary care for the NHS and has recently also delved into becoming an online nutritionist and fitness coach, said she had wanted to do a pageant for a long time, and finally applied for this year’s event in April. 

From May onwards, she said she had to undertake a number of steps including a Zoom masterclass in September before the competition itself in October. 

• READ MORE: Hornchurch girl takes top-five Miss Teen GB place

Ms Singh said that, despite being among the few women of colour at the event, she felt a “sense of belonging”, and that the warmth from other participants was “incredible”. 

“It was a big, big courage, and I felt that it was the best two days of my life,” she said. 

Her goal, however, goes further than success for success’s sake. 

She said she hopes to prove that other women from her background can compete at similar events, and break down barriers that others may feel are in their way. 

“My campaign is about believing in yourself, and it is never too young or too old to learn and grow,” Ms Singh said. 

“And to not let people's opinion define who you should be.”