Hailing from Halifax, Ellie Brook is 23-years-old and is a Liverpool John Moores University student studying Law & Criminology and is also a finalist at Miss International United Kingdom 2021 and is vying to win the title and represent the United Kingdom at Miss International 2021.
The diva is not new to the world of beauty pageants as she was Miss Halifax Galaxy 2018/19 and Royal International Miss United Kingdom 2020 where she was adjudged as the third runner up. She is now looking forward to win the title of Miss International United Kingdom 2021 in order to use the platform to inspire people who deal with mental health and help them in whatever way possible.
Ellie mentioned that she has battled with anorexia and bulimia and at the age of 19, she was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression after being sexually assaulted. When she had given up, beauty pageants saved her as she started to work on herself and fell in love with the new you. She explained, “The best thing pageants have taught me is to be my own person, to stand out and be as extra as I want. If I want something in life, I am going to fight for it and more so love myself believing that I am enough.”
With same determination, the diva aspires to use the platform to reach out to the people who deal with mental health and have no help. She wants to tell them that it’s okay to feel what they feel and can ask for help without guilt. In 2019, Ellie launched her Mental Beauty project, which has included returning to former school Crossley Heath to deliver self-confidence workshops. She wants to go into more schools to reach as many young people as possible.
“I aim to get back into schools in the next few months with a fully developed program teaching students on positive mental health as I see so many young lives destroyed by this daily on social media alone. I want to become a role model for those who are struggling,” she stated.
She further added, “Recently I have started my own YouTube channel where a lot of my content relates to mental health awareness and promoting positivity as I also aspire to influence people through the power of social media. I am determined to inspire and influence as many lives as I can.” According to Ellie, to be a pageant role model, an individual must be genuine, kind-hearted, and willing to share their wisdom with others.
Ellie is determined and confident with her preparation and feels that with a little more focus she will be able to win the title and represent the country at international stage. The diva is fond of fashion round at the competition as it’s the chance you get to be as out there and extra as possible and you can shake your best bits and just have fun on stage. On asking about what’s the best advise she’d like to give her fellow pageant queens, Ellie shared, “The best advice I can give is to just be yourself and do not be afraid to jump out of your comfort zone. Don’t be someone you think classes as ‘pageantry’ this is as simple as it gets!”
The diva’s aspiration and zeal to win the title is positive and hopeful and with her preparation she can emerge as a strong contender for the title. Ellie’s message to the world especially for the one who deal with mental health is heart warming and she can use the platform to help the ones in need.