Junior doctor with no pageant experience attracts record number of votes for Miss England final

A junior doctor with no pageant experience has attracted a record number of votes for the Miss England final.

Saskia Fauguel, 27, from Todmorden, West Yorkshire received a staggering 27,000 votes in the qualifying round and will take part in the final round of the famous contest in June this year. 

Last year Saskia shed four stone, plummeting from 14st to just over 10st after swapping takeaways and sugary treats for healthy food, and says she enjoyed a ‘confidence boost’ as a result of her weight loss

She admitted she’d ‘never dreamed’ of entering a pageant, but when she saw the opportunity to join the competition through the wildcard category, she decided to take the leap and apply.  

Saskia Fauguel, 27, from Todmorden, West Yorkshire has attracted a record number of votes for the Miss England final

The junior doctor says she'd 'never dreamed' of entering a pageant, but when she saw the opportunity to join the competition she decided to take the leap and apply

The junior doctor says she’d ‘never dreamed’ of entering a pageant, but when she saw the opportunity to join the competition she decided to take the leap and apply

‘I was aware of pageants when I was younger but I never dreamed of being in one myself,’ said Saskia. ‘I never had the confidence to go for it until now, plus I was focusing on being a doctor.

‘Some of the girls will be models and very experienced at doing pageants, which is the total opposite of me, but I don’t mind being an underdog, I’m just really excited.’

Last November Saskia embarked on her weight loss journey after discovering she had high blood sugar levels. 

She ditched her usual snacks of sweets and chocolate and limited how often she was indulging in takeaways, and claimed she feels better than ever as a result of her new healthier lifestyle. 

Last year Saskia shed four stone, plummeting from 14st to just over 10st after swapping takeaways and sugary treats for healthy food

Last year Saskia shed four stone, plummeting from 14st to just over 10st after swapping takeaways and sugary treats for healthy food

To enter the contest, the junior doctor submitted images and videos of herself for the judges to review before being accepted into the wildcard qualifier. 

Saskia, who is currently undergoing the six-year process of becoming a psychiatrist, received more votes than anyone in Miss England’s history after appearing on a voting app with other entrants. 

Judges were so impressed with Saskia that they allowed her to appear at the final without an interview.    

Earlier this month the doctor took to Instagram where she admitted she was ‘shocked’ by the support she had garnered and said she wanted to set an example that ‘regular people can do extraordinary things’. 

To enter the contest, the junior doctor submitted images and videos of herself for the judges to review before being accepted into the wildcard qualifier

To enter the contest, the junior doctor submitted images and videos of herself for the judges to review before being accepted into the wildcard qualifier

Saskia, who is currently undergoing the six-year process of becoming a psychiatrist, received more votes than anyone else in Miss England history

Saskia, who is currently undergoing the six-year process of becoming a psychiatrist, received more votes than anyone else in Miss England history

She wrote: ‘I stand for everyone having their own unique inner and outer beauty. Loving themselves at every size whilst trying to be at their healthiest – recently lost 4 stone now, and not because I hated my body, but because I grew to love it and take better care of it.

‘I’m an NHS doctor, specialising in psychiatry as mental and physical health is my passion. 

‘I’m highly driven and put my all into everything I do. I would do my all for Miss England, to spread awareness for charity, including mind which I feel do an amazing job. 

‘I’d advocate for those who have mental struggles as I’ve been through that first hand too. I’m just a regular person, I don’t wear make-up much, I spend most [of] my time with my animals and family or work. 

Judges were so impressed with the junior doctor they allowed her to appear at the final without an interview

Judges were so impressed with the junior doctor they allowed her to appear at the final without an interview

‘I want to show that regular people can do extraordinary things, that no matter how hard life is, follow you’re dreams.’ 

Miss England is one the world’s most famous beauty pageants and dates back to 1923.

The winners go on to compete in Miss World and Stephanie Hill achieved the best-ever result as the second runner-up in 2017.

This year’s pandemic saw a virtual competition guarantee saw finalist of the Year awarded to Army cadet Alina Green, 22, from Bracknell, Berkshire, who will go into the top 10 of the 2021 Miss England finals.