'We used to whisper the word menopause'

Debbie Hughes, who is a grandmother of three, wants to use her new title to help women with the menopause

A grandmother of three who was crowned Ms GB Classic has said she wants to use her title to empower women who are going through the menopause.

Debbie Hughes, 55, from Lightwood, Stoke-on-Trent, had entered the competition three times previously, and finally took the victory in Leicester on 18 October.

Her campaign focused on encouraging women to talk about the condition, and seek help from GPs earlier.

"I feel it's really important to represent women of my age, to show them that age is just a number," she said.

"You can be your own version of fabulous and beautiful, no matter your shape and size, no matter what you’re going through."

The pageant is a version of the Miss Great Britain competition for women over the age of 45.

Ms Hughes had tried to win the crown three times before

Ms Hughes has been going through the menopause for the last four years, and for the last 12 months has run an online support group for women called Talking Taboo.

"It took me quite a long time to go to the GP for support," she said.

"I want to raise the profile of that subject and basically destigmatise the condition, and encourage women to talk more about it.

"Years ago, it was one of those subjects that people would whisper... people wouldn’t actually say the words 'the menopause'."

Now that she has won the title, she will continue to campaign and reach out to women who are struggling.

Having applied multiple times before, she described the win as a "pinch-me moment", but said she would be hanging up her pageant hat.

"That will be the last time I compete," she said.

"I will continue to empower women," she said, "I have so much still to give, whether I've got this crown or not."

"I’ll still be doing exactly what I’m doing."