Haywards Heath Rotary president is Ms Great Britain finalist

Vicky O'Farrell will be competing alongside the other Ms Great Britain finalists on Friday, February 21.

At 48 years old, Mrs O’Farrell says she is one of the oldest contestants.

She said: “The contest is trying to get away from the beauty pageant that it started as in 1945 – post World War Two, people just wanted some cheery happiness.

“I was encouraged to apply after all the fundraising work I’ve done.”

Mrs O’Farrell, who lives in Haywards Heath, has done night walk marathons for Breast Cancer Awareness and Coppafeel, and is the first female president of Haywards Heath Rotary since it was established in 1932.

She is also a board member for the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs, and was a gamesmaker during the 2012 Paralympics.

She said: “Ms Great Britain organisers want it to be a pageant for female role models.

“It’s all about getting rid of stigma and being great for Britain.

“We need to be role models. The competition isn’t just about being body confident, it’s about being people confident, being able to stand up and hold your own. Life’s tough, and only ever going to get tougher. We need to support each other.”

In her day job, Mrs O’Farrell is a personality profiler.

She said: “My job is to do with helping people overcome challenges.

“All the volunteering gives me a really fulfilling life, it’s incredibly rewarding.”

During the contest there will be a presentation round in a uniform of blue jeans and t-shirt – ‘so nobody can outpower someone in a suit’, says Vicky – as well as a swimwear round and a formal dress round.

She said: “I nearly pulled out when I heard there was a swimwear round.

It’s not just a bikini round, but people still want this round in because it makes them feel so empowered.”

She said she wants to show that age shouldn’t stop anyone being a role model, young or old, and she wants to be a role model because of her mind, her experience, and what she can offer.

She added: “I’m not just going to be sitting on the sidelines – if I want to drive change, then I’ve got to be in there driving change. and making a difference.”