Three entrepreneurial Mansfield women have joined together to relaunch a well-known local pageant.

Miss Mansfield and Sherwood Forest will return this year for the first time since 2019, when the pandemic meant major events were put on hold.

Long-term contest organiser Tricia Mapletoft has been joined by Emma Wilson, one of the founders of the Lashes Foundation charity, and Kelly Wilson-Parkes, who runs events Mansfield Woodhouse-based Touch of Charm, to organise the event.

They aim to bring an even stronger community feel to the competition, which aims to find women ambassadors to promote Mansfield and the area. It will be called Miss Mansfield and Sherwood Forest Ambassador Programme.

Tricia said they are looking for ambassadors who are bright, bubbly, enthusiastic, and love the idea of raising money for charity and getting involved in the community.

A former winner of the pagaent herself in 1989, Trish said before the covid-enforced lockdown the competition was “going great guns”.

“We raised funds for loads of different charities — over £50,000, for Rethink Mental Illness, Guide Dogs, and Macmillan to name just a few,” she added.

“It was always something inside me that was burning. I wanted to get it moving again for Mansfield and the fundraising side of it.

“Recently I heard about the Lashes Foundation a lot and thought we need to be working with them and helping them.”

Trish contacted Emma, who helped to launch the charity in memory of her daughter, Evie, who died aged 13 in 2021. The foundation aims to help people who are in need in the community — just like Evie did.

Emma said: “It is really important to empower women and young girls, and allow them to be the best versions of themselves.”

Kelly, who like Emma is a trustee of the Lashes Foundation, is to sponsor the pagaent through her business, Touch of Charm.

“I am a huge advocate for female empowerment and entrepreneurship,” she added.

The three organisers said contestants must be aged 17 to 25, and live in the Mansfield area.

More details about this year’s pageant, including an entry form, will be at www.missmansfield.co.uk when it launches in April. The final of Miss Mansfield and Sherwood Forest will be held on Saturday, 4th November at The John Fretwell Sporting Complex, Sookholme.

PHOTO: Nicole Newbold Photography