Miss GB hopefuls pick causes close to their hearts

Three finalists competing for a national beauty queen title are hoping to highlight causes close to their hearts.

When Miss Great Britain began in 1945 it was only about judging the physical beauty of contestants.

But 80 years on its organisers are also keen to shine a spotlight on the personal campaigns and good causes they are supporting.

Alice Cutler, from Southampton, Krystel Vida, from Bournemouth, and Charlie Cobb, from Catherington, are competing in the 2025 Miss, Ms and Mrs Great Britain categories.

Twenty-eight-year-old Miss Cutler is representing her own campaign, called Time to Grieve.

She is petitioning for a legal right for employees to be paid bereavement leave in the UK.

"At the age of 18 I actually lost mum in a car accident on my way back from my aunt's funeral," she said.

"And at that point I had already lost my dad to cancer when I was nine."

"As a solicitor I was pretty shocked to find out that there is currently no legal entitlement to time off work when a loved one died."

Alice and Krystel are finalists in this year's Miss and Ms GB competition

Krystel Vida, 31, works as an interpreter and translator in her day-to-day life, and wants to use the competition to empower women and girls.

French, English and Spanish are the main languages that Ms Vida works with.

"I'm helping solicitors, therapists and doctors to communicate with their patients," she said.

"So I'm sharing and giving my voice to help people that are vulnerable."

This is the second year that Charlie Cobb has competed

Taking part in the Classic category, which is for contestants over 45-years-old, is Charlie Cobb from Portsmouth.

This is the second year that the 46-year-old has competed and said that she is now hooked on pageantry.

Miss Cobb said: "It allows you to have that impact over image and I feel that I am amongst friends and a great group of women.

"It has boosted my confidence and given me a voice."

This year Miss Cobb is representing foster carers after fostering 13 children herself.

The 2025 national final, which is celebrating the pageant's 80th anniversary, will take place on Friday.