All about Lyndsay

“I started my pageant journey with Miss V, competing in the inaugural year of 2017. Initially, I entered as moral support for Laura Davis, my best friend and fellow competitor.

At the time I had absolutely no confidence in myself. I’d not long come out of a traumatic breakup and was suffering with PTSD following that event. I’d also not long been diagnosed with Clinical Depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorder, so didn’t know if putting myself under the pressure of a competition was the right thing for me, but I wanted to return the many favours that Laura had done for me during the aftermath of my split.

After a couple of weeks connecting with the most amazing people I’d ever met and learning about how pageants work, I was hooked. I found that working to help my community and with charity events was so empowering and gave me a purpose when I didn’t have one at that point in time. It actually made me feel like a worthwhile human being after being made to feel so worthless.

I’d decided that I wanted my platform to be mental health awareness because I’d learnt first hand how difficult it is to get the right help you need as quickly as you need it. I had to fight to get counselling and medication to help me through.

The finals came far too quickly and I didn’t feel as prepared as I should have been. Even though I felt so self-conscious for the whole weekend, I learned that I could do anything I put my mind to. Not only did I exceed all of my own expectations, but with the love and support of my fabulous sisters and director I had the time of my life, gained so much confidence in my abilities and made Top 10 in my first ever pageant. I was utterly gobsmacked.

I applied for 2018 immediately as I’d definitely caught the bug, but unfortunately had to withdraw after my mental health took a turn for the worst. I had a breakdown and, in the midst of all that, I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, which took me a long time to come to terms with. It was a mental health condition I’d have for life.

However, with a lot of blood, sweat and tears, medication and psychotherapy, I felt well enough to help out with the 2019 Miss V Grand Final in Warrington. It was an amazing experience to see everyone again, meet new people and it was almost as if I’d never left. It felt like coming home.

This spurred me on to apply for 2020 with personality disorders as my mental health platform focus and here I am! Living my greatest life, with the greatest people, helping people to get the help that I struggled to get and working hard towards the crown that I now know for certain that I deserve.

I am worthy of a title, whenever that may come. If it doesn’t come this year, I’ll keep coming back because Miss V is a family.”