Disabled Model Has Eye on the Prize

Katie Knowles, a 24 year old model from Newcastle, is working hard to break barriers for disabled people by taking part in the annual Miss North East Competition at the end of the month.  Katie, who has a spinal disease, uses crutches to walk and intends to use them in the competition to prove that having a disability is not an obstacle in the world of beauty pageants.

Changing Perceptions

Katie says: “I’m really excited to be involved.  By entering the competition, I’m hoping to break down barriers and change perceptions of not just beauty pageants but also disabled people.”

She was asked to take part in the competition after organisers read about her in a local newspaper.  The Miss North East competition already prides itself on its diversity as one of the only pageants that allow children and married women to enter, which encouraged Katie in her decision to take part.

She comments: “I’ve been shocked by how different it is to what I was expecting.  It’s not your typical beauty contest.  I can’t believe that we’re in 2015 and a disabled model has never got to the final of a UK beauty pageant.”

Beating the Odds

Even to get this far and raise awareness is so important.

Katie has had a hard battle with her disc degenerative disease, despite this, she recently graduated from Northumbria University with a law degree.  She now has her sights set on winning Miss North East: “I don’t know what I would do if I won,” she says “It would be incredible.  Winning would provide me with a platform and could end up being a really powerful tool to break down barriers with.”

“Even to get this far and raise awareness is so important.”

The competition takes place on Thursday 30^th July in Durham, good luck Katie!