An equestrian is hoping to swap her riding hat for a tiara as she vies for the title of Miss North Yorkshire.
Charlotte Dring, 25, a grazing officer for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with a degree in agricultural studies, has made it to the final of the Miss North Yorkshire pageant on 17 April.
Charlotte, who enjoys unaffiliated dressage and riding club activities with her 16.1hh sports horse Bruce, told H&H she has never done any kind of pageant before.
“I’m a bit of a rookie!” she said. “I saw the pageant advertised and at first I thought ‘I wish I could try something like that’ – then I thought ‘why not?’ and pushed myself to sign up.”
“I’m quite competitive – whenever I do a dressage test, I come out of the ring thinking ‘what could I have done better?’ so I’m really starting to get into the competition now.”
Charlotte, who lives on a farm, said she feels proud to be doing the pageant for the “horsey” girls.
“I enjoy being outside but I also like getting dressed up so it’s a nice balance. ‘t,” she said.
“People at my yard and Molton Riding Club have been really supportive and my trainer, Nicky Lyons, has been rallying people to come to the final and support me.”
The pageant contestants can earn points for social appearances and charity work, with total scores being counted at the final, and Charlotte has chosen to host a fashion show raising funds for the pageant’s chosen charity Zoe’s Place, a baby hospice, and a charity of her choice, the MS Society.
“My friends and family are going to take part and we’re holding it at a village hall,” said Charlotte. “The MS Society means a lot because my dad, Alan, has MS. You would never know he has it, he’s such an inspiration.
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“I wasn’t sure what my parents would think about me entering the pageant, being farmers, but they’ve got quite into it.”
The ultimate winner of Miss North Yorkshire will go on to compete for the title of Supermodel England.
“I would be really shocked if I won, but you never know,” said Charlotte.
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