Posted on 12th Aug
A Sutton mum with a love for performing arts is to represent Nottinghamshire at the national final of the Miss British Isles Elegance 2020/21 model competition.
Kay Thomason-Vardy is among 50 entrants from across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland to have been selected as finalists for the event at Chester Racecourse in September – and the chance to win more than £10,000-worth of prizes.
Named Miss Nottinghamshire Elegance 2020/21, Kay will take part in a professional photoshoot before the final and then a catwalk show in Chester.
“Everyone was having a rough year when I entered in August last year,” she said. “This was a little bit of a welcome distraction and enough of a highlight to make some alternative 2020 memories.
“I was hand-picked and fast tracked to the final group, from some natural no make-up photos. For a mother-of-two, who has never been into visual identity or make-up or fashion, to be noticed by a competition organiser or judge was, to be honest, quite unbelievable and a great confidence boost.
“It still feels a bit unreal and I haven’t even thought about winning. I am more focused on not falling over on the catwalk!”
Kay has been performing since she was two. She has won medals in dance competitions and performed in amateur dramatics productions such as A Christmas Carol and several hospital fundraising pantomimes, as well as at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
After taking a break from the spotlight to spend time teaching in Uganda and later to start a family, Kay is now stepping on to the catwalk.
She has a degree in drama in the community and is currently working as part of the entertainment staff for seasonal family events at Twinlakes Park, near Melton Mowbray.
Previous winners of Miss British Isles-organised events have gone on to be signed by top modelling agencies, take part in major TV shows and appear in a Bollywood film.
