What is Weakness?

Have any of you been told you are weak? That you are a doormat? Has anybody told you, you're too kind, too open or too generous?

My question is, how is LOYALTY, GENEROSITY & KINDNESS, a sign of weakness?

So, I did some research into the definition of 'weak'

"lacking the power to perform physically demanding tasks; having little physical strength or energy"

"liable to break or give way under pressure; easily damaged"

Where do those three qualities come in them definitions?

For a long time, when I was in my late Primary School and early High School stages, I was consistently told "You trust people too much" and "You need to start being careful" up to the point where them quotes eventually changed to being "You need to let people in, you're shutting them out"

Another question I ask, is how does one know how weak you are, when they don't know everything you've overcome. I know many people who are coming out of their previous suffering and making great recovery - but some people may be none the wiser and still obnoxiously call them weak when in fact they are making great strides! It seems that just because we don't show our physical strength, or we cry, or we can hurt - makes us weak.

"liable to break or give way under pressure; easily damaged"

In my experience, I work under great pressure and sometimes deal with very ungrateful people in my line of work - but I do not give way, and they do not damage me - I am not weak.

I pushed through my anxieties, my unnecessary coping mechanisms and my severe depression without professional help, I am still here - I am not weak

Although, I can admit this now, a lot of people can't - so when somebody calls them weak, it will frustrate them as they have probably been told how strong they are and although an opinion like that, is just words, words can hurt! I've previously said, that self harm is one way to deal with emotional upset as physical pain hurts less than emotional pain - being called weak can create so much complexes in anybody's mind until it takes a huge gust of confidence to pluck up the courage and say I AM NOT WEAK.

I am Kind. I am Loyal. I am loving. I wear my heart on my sleeve. If I compete in a pageant, I am not disheartened if I don't win the crown, instead I am overwhelmed with the experience. I have made tough decisions. I survived High School and College! I grew up being unpopular. I have kept the same high demand job for almost two full years whilst juggling A Levels and Charity work. It has been a year since I've been anywhere near fluoxetine. I. AM. CERTAINLY. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE. NOT. WEAK.

I'm asking all of you now, to stand up against the bullies, the obnoxious people, those that think they are stronger than anybody and laugh in their face. I can assure every single one of you reading this,

You are not weak, you are strong for your own reasons and just because they aren't the same as their reasons to be strong, doesn't mean you aren't in great strength.

Someone is this world, will always be proud of you and who you are. Don't be forced to be emotionless and my advice is, always wear your heart on your sleeve.

And to those who perceive and call others weak? I ask you to think, you are most likely judging somebody you don't know. How would you feel if someone called you weak?

So. Yes. We ARE ALL empowered, independent strong people! NONE OF US ARE WEAK!

Abi's Fundraiser for Headway East Kent

Last week, I had the amazing opportunity to become a model for the night at one of my fellow Miss Bolton and Bury contestant's charity night.

Abigail Stroud-Mort is known highly in the pageant community, not just for her outer-beauty but inner beauty too! The best thing is, she's a Bolton lass!

Shortly after Miss Bolton and Bury, Abi won the prestigious title of Face of North West England AND competes in Disney Land later this year!

Last week, she worked hard in order to create a phenomenal charity night in order to raise money for Headway East Kent- a registered charity for brain injury! This may come in useful, due to my family's history of dementia and also my constant injuries that always seem to involve my head being wacked on either the floor or a shelf!


(Pictured, Abi in dress from The Pageant Boutique)

Alongside fellow beauty competitors, and our own Laura Collins - I took to the Catwalk, modelling beautiful dresses from Bedazzled Boutique and LM Fashions. As well as this, the models were made up by the amazing Shazia Qayyum and her Flawless team! The event was beautifully captured by the great and kind Ant Bradshaw, a photographer with a pure, loyal heart. Values that I also hold close to my heart and life!

In total £266.66 was raised, which is a SMASHING amount! Once again, showing that Pageantry is more than the walk, the talk and the beauty!

Here are all the beautiful crowns with the owner of Bedazzled Boutique, and also the models who took part in the fashion show - with Abbie herself in the middle -  a vision in pink, I have selected some of my favorites to review for you here:

This dress is part a the beautiful collection! 

I love the bright colours! 

Perfect for a Race Day, a wedding or just to wear on a beautiful day out!

Oooh, look who it is: Miss Bolton and Bury, Laura Collins, a now Miss England FINALIST!

What I absolutely adore about this outfit that Laura is modeling, is the simplicity yet classiness!

It is the sort of outfit you could go out in, have a meal or even a date with! It's not revealing, therefore would be comfortable for any occassion!

And, of course, black goes with everything!

An evening dress, from 

Now there is something you MUST know about me! 

I love SPARKLES!

And this dress portrays my love perfectly! I like the delicacy of this mainly and how I can imagine it shimmering in them stage lights!

I could even see this on the red carpet!

The lady in red!

This dress certainly holds sophistication! 

The sleeves that gently hang off the shoulder, with the embellished shoulder straps creates elegance.

I'd definitely put this in my wardrobe!

The detail!

That's the thing I love about this dress, the ruffles with the embellished top! 

I wouldn't call it cherry red, yet it isn't really a pink - I'd put it in between, more coral if anything! 

Making this THE dress for all skin tones, and hair colours!

Again, it's the simplicity I love about this dress, and the colour!

The zips at either side, add for a casual sense of style; yet the sleeves and the figure hugging makes this dress the perfect type for going out.

Or even, a cute little Black dress for the Miss England finals!

Complimented with bright lipstick and eyeshadow, this dress has the potential to create a look that really POPS!

This dress is so FLOATY!

It is the dress that'd look amazing flowing down a staircase, or even the perfect bridesmaid gown!

Again, the embellishment is situated at the top of the dress, adding some creative detail!

And the layers add for an easy dress to walk in and a perfect dress to show off to anybody!

I love the colour combination of this outfit!

The checkered skirt is 'oh so beautiful'!

Again, the perfect dress for any occasion, and the skirt could really show off a great booty!

These are the three women behind our faces that night! Very precise and detailed make-up! Take a look at some of the close shots:

Also, I couldn't resist posting this picture of Laura and I having a casual catch-up chat which Ant sneakily captured!

Oh! Did I mention, at the venue, there were THRONES! 

Throne + Beauty Queen is a definite must!

So that's it from me now folks! Once again proving how pageantry is one hell of a lot of fun and such an easy way to meet inspirational people!

Miss Bolton and Bury, Miss England Semi Finals!

Good Afternoon!

Look which beautiful young women my blogpost is about today! Meet Miss Bolton and Bury 2015, Laura Collins!

Laura will be competing at the Miss England Semi Finals, this Sunday at Kelham Hall and Country Park against over 60 other beautiful people!

Our queen Laura is so special to the Miss Bolton and Bury team! We know how beautiful she is, inside and out! She is Bolton's beauty! So in honour of the Semi Finals and Laura herself, I have tracked down some of the Miss Bolton and Bury team who have some very special things to say:

Laura, this one's for you beautiful!

"Good luck Laura! Hope you have an amazing time, I'm sure you'll have a great experience, do it for Bolton and Bury! We are all very proud of you" - Elle Finch

"Massive good luck in the semi-finals hun we will all be rooting for you! Your an absolute amazing role model and inspiration for Bolton&Bury and of course a well deserved winner and you will do us all proud! Have a fantastic time cant wait to hear all about it" - Beth Bower

"Good luck Laura! Not that you need it, we all know how hard you have worked! Your a great representative for Bolton & Bury and you will be amazing in the semi's! We are all so proud of you already" - Abigail Stroud-Mort

"All the luck in the world to my gorgeous big miss sister! We are all SO SO SO proud of you and how hard you have worked! You are an incredible role model to all of Bury & Bolton and a huge inspiration & role model to me! Love you girly! You'll be AMAZING!" - Giorgia Frost, Junior Miss Bolton and Bury

"Massive good luck Laura!!! You definitely deserve to do well as youre such a lovely person and great role model! Your miss Bolton and bury family are routing for you hun!! We know you'll smash it" - Holly Taylor-Smith

"Good luck beautiful , we all so proud of you ,you're one of the most amazing person that I ever met and you've inspired me in so many ways ,we all love you and believe in you .(PS: don't forget to have fun and get that crown)Bonne chance" - Jenny Munene

"Good luck gorgeous! Can't wait to hear updates, have the best time and I'm sure you'll smash it! Can't wait for our very own Bolton and bury girl to rock the Miss England Finals!!" - Beth Dove

"I wish you all the luck in the world - not that you will need it! I know full well that you will rock every minute of the semis, from the very moment you arrive to the point were you are packing up all your gear ready to go home. You are a true inspiration, a beautiful soul - I am so proud of you. Keep smiling, keep being you, keep making Bolton and Bury proud; you have already achieved so much" - Lucy Physick, Miss Bolton 2013/14

"Good luck Laura in the semi finals, not that you need it because your an absolutely amazing girl inside and out. You are a deserved winner and I know you will make our little Bolton/ bury family happy. We will all be proud of you no matter what Xx" - Sairah Imtiaz

"Our Laura, miss Bolton and bury, you've done is so proud already! Your a beautiful person inside and out with a heart of gold and you truly deserved to win as you deserve to do well at miss England semi finals! Show them what us northers are made of! And no matter what happens you've done us all so proud and you've done amazingly as our ambassador and you truly have shown what it means to be great role model! I wish you all the luck in the world, not that you need it, go and win it for us!" - Helaina Morgan

"Laura, I've said it once and I'll say it again, there is no one that I would have wished to come 2nd to more than you! And these past few months have shown that you totally deserved the title and haven't changed my mind in the slightest! You're an amazing girl, friend and role model and I am honoured to call you a friend. You don't need any luck for the semi's, but break a leg as I would say and show everyone how beautiful inside and out you are!!" - Kelly Smith

"Well, what can I say?

You're ace in every way. You're pretty and smart, So go and win their hearts! You deserve a huge bouquet

I really do wish you the best Laura, you've been there for every one of us and you know we'll always be here for you too. Show them who the real winner is, you've got your girls on your side!! Good luck" - Tameka Bowman

"Good luck Laura, not that you need it, because you will do great! Make sure you enjoy every second and have lots of fun!" - Georgia Potter

"Hey Laura! Just wanted to say a huge good luck to you for you this weekend! You are an intelligent beautiful girl who deserves the best! You bring smiles to lots of people and not only that you are so down to earth and compassionate and we all love that about you! I'll be there at the weekend watching everything that happens, hopefully there'll be plenty of time for hugs and pictures! You have the whole of Bolton, Bury and Team North behind you! Love you Laura! See you soon!!!" - Mary Ainsworth

"Good Luck Pal!! Dont be nervous or panic, if you are ever in doubt just smile anyway hahaa Huge good luck wishes coming your way!!! lots and lots and lot of love!!!" - Chelsea Edgar, Miss Bury 2013/14

"Huge good luck Laura, from standing in the P.e department during dinner breaks at high school to representing Bolton & Bury at the Miss England semi - final!!! So proud of you. Enjoy every second of it, live for the moment & make unforgetable memories. Everyone is behind you - huge good luck & well done on everything so far" - Christina Cunningham

Just one more to sign off from me, because I have a feeling I'm going to be late for work otherwise! You have taught me so many things already Laura - from loyalty to true friendship and what it is all about. Nothing could ever mean more to me than you achieving a place in that Miss England final! If I could have found a lift on Sunday, I'd be there! We all love you so much and that tiara is rightfully on your head! So, take a stand! Have fun! WOW the judges! And let's show the country what Bolton and Bury is all about! A HUGE GOOD LUCK!! 

Also, I'd like to wish a huge Good Luck to our other Team North girls in the Semi Finals: Holly Moore, Rebecca Copsey & Hannah Bradley!