Pageant contestant finds confidence through scar

Crystal Pincott underwent open heart surgery in 2024

A beauty pageant contest who underwent open heart surgery has said the scar on her chest has encouraged her to be more confident in her own skin.

Crystal Pincott, from Taunton in Somerset, underwent the lifesaving operation in Bristol last year to treat a hole and swelling in her heart which had gone undetected her whole life.

The 24-year-old said she was initially very worried about how the scar would impact her confidence, both in her daily life and while she competed in pageants, but she has now accepted it is a part of her.

"I do want to get the message out there to people to be confident in your own skin if you have got scars or anything like that," Miss Pincott said.

Miss Pincott said while growing up she often experienced breathlessness when doing physical activities, despite being quite fit.

A series of tests revealed she had Sinus venosus Atrial Septal Defect with Partial Anomalous Pulmonary venous Return, a congenital heart condition.

Doctors told her the open heart surgery was the only option for her to have a normal, fulfilled life.

Competing in beauty pageants began as a hobby for Miss Pincott in 2023, a year before she discovered the problems with her heart.

She was crowned Miss Elegance Of The World UK Winner in 2023 and came third in the Miss Universal Global competition in Florida in 2024.

The competition in the United States was the first pageant Miss Pincott competed in after her surgery.

"They all asked about the scar and what had happened," she said.

"I went out there with confidence and just to show off the scar really.

"I didn't let it affect me - I just carried on as normal."

Miss Priscott was crowned Miss Elegance Of The World UK Winner in 2023

Since the operation, Miss Pincott's scar has faded.

"It is obviously still there and it probably will still be there for life, but I'm quite pleased with how much it's faded over time," she said.

"It's there and there's nothing I can do about it.

"I'm just going to have to carry on and I'm not going to stop wearing the clothes I was wearing before."