Miss Burgess Hill using title to reduce mental health stigma

Natalie Markwell, 18 of Woodland Avenue, admitted she entered the competition ‘on a whim’ after watching a TV series in which a pageant featured.

However, having progressed to the final she is determined to make a difference.

She said: “I am a big campaigner for reducing mental health stigma and I suffer myself with bipolar and hope that by doing this I can represent a part of the mental health population to show that we are and should be treated just like everyone else.”

Natalie added she was ‘so chuffed’ to be nominated and selected to go to the final.

“I never thought I would get this far in a million years!” she said. “It still seems unreal.”

Her Miss Burgess Hill sash is in the post, and people can help support her bid to win the pageant at http://internationalpageantsuk.com/