Pageants are looking for queens who are leaders making change in their communities, and I'm proud to be one
A Crawley woman who has been appointed Miss West Sussex will represent the county at an International pageant in April – and she is looking to be a leader who makes change in her community.
Elizabeth Cooper, from Maidenbower, was appointed in September and will represent the county at the International Junior Miss UK finals are in The Civic Centre Trowbridge on April 11, 2026.
The 30-year-old has been running initiatives and fundraising for her chosen cause, A-Sisterhood, behind the scenes whilst getting ready for finals.
To become Miss West Sussex, Elizabeth had to do a written application and an audition and the winners of the UK finals then go on to compete for the international title, with women from all over the world.
And Elizabeth says the most important part of being Miss West Sussex has been sharing her initiatives. “I recently ran a large, international campaign collecting bras for women in domestic violence shelters which the people of West Sussex really supported me with,” she said.
"I was so grateful and it shone a light on my favourite thing about the county, our willingness to help those in need. I collected 4,300+ bras in the end which are going to shelters all over the UK. I'm also sometimes now known as the Bra Lady.
"If we are lucky, we often don't think about it, but victims who flee domestic violence often have to do so in the middle of the night and may not have a bra with them when they go. These donations mean that when they start anew in a job interview, or in a new school with their children, they have what they need.”
Elizabeth, who is an actress and a singer, also runs the Bloom Initiative, which aims to encourage those who need it to change their lives. “As part of this I'll be visiting women's circles, donating to causes that need support, and sharing stories of local trailblazers on social media,” she said. “As a woman born into difficult circumstances myself, it's important to me that I help others succeed as much as I can. I also want to bring as much light to the world as is possible in dark times.”
Elizabeth’s chosen cause is A-Sisterhood, an organisation that supports, empowers and protects women and girls globally. They are a non-profit that supports multiple charities, from domestic abuse victims and acid attack victims, to shutting down FGM centres, they aim to improve the world for women in every way they can.
"I have found this so inspiring, and they are who I donated the bras to,” Elizabeth said. “They've taught me I can always do just a little bit more to help. I've fundraised £2,200+ for them in the past year - bake sales, two tough mudders, coffee mornings, the lot! - and they have been so supportive of my journey as IJM Ms West Sussex.
"I'm now taking on a skydive to try and raise as much as I can for them this year...I'm petrified. But not as petrified as the women they support who need help, so I'll jump for those pennies.”
And Elizabeth says she is proud to be a leader making a change in her community. “Beauty pageants are full of impact driven, ambitious women,” she said. “I know so many women who have raised tens of thousands of pounds for causes they care about, who thrive in academic careers, and who can speak with confidence about the change they want to create in the world.
"For me, I want little girls to follow their dreams of being on stages, no matter how impossible it might feel.
"Pageants these days are looking for queens who are leaders making change in their communities, and I'm proud to be one.”
If anyone wants to follow along and get involved with the community initiatives, visit Elizabeth on Instagram @iamelizabethcooper.