'˜Curvy' Sheffield mum in final of national beauty pageant

Natalie Elwood has been crowned Miss Sheffield and will compete in Miss Galaxy UK in February.

The 25-year-old, from Firth Park, started modelling a year ago and has already won titles in two other pageants.

Natalie said: “It’s given me a lot of confidence which I’d lost since I had my little girl, Grace.

“She is three now and after giving birth I’d put on a bit of weight and this has given me back the confidence I had lost.”

“I’m curvy not stick thin. I’m more of a plus size model, which is really popular nowadays.

“This pageant doesn’t discriminate you can be any size.”

Not just a pretty face, Natalie is planning to study Midwifery at Sheffield Hallam University and said pageants are a way to have fun and let her hair down when she isn’t studying or caring for her daughter.

“It is a fun thing for me to do in addition, a chance for me to get dressed up,” she said.

“One of the most fun parts for me is choosing the outfits I’m going to wear.

“It has given me lots of opportunities too including like fundraising.”

Miss Galaxy supports The Christie Charity, a Manchester-based cancer trust, and Natalie has the chance to raise cash for the organisation through her own fundraising.

“Cancer affects so many people and it is nice to be able to give something back,” she said.

Another big opportunity could include a trip to America as the winner of Miss Galaxy will get the chance to compete for a world title crown in the USA.

However Natalie said the pageant is mostly ‘just a bit of fun’ for her.

She said: “Some of the girls do take it a bit more seriously, but to me it’s more like a hobby.

“I’d recommend any young women do it.

“I wouldn’t push my daughter to do it unless she really wanted to.

“She is very photogenic but I’m not a push parent.

“It really is a confidence boost.

“I’m going to grab the opportunity while I have it.”