Have you ever wanted to enter a beauty pageant?
I always thought they looked like a rewarding experience, but I know that contestants put in a lot of physical and emotional labor to succeed.
I bet the feeling of putting that crown on your head makes it all worth it, though.
Zoiey Smale is a 28-year-old from the U.K. who knows that feeling very well.
According to the BBC, Zoiey was crowned Miss United Continents UK in June 2017.
The pageant queen was getting ready to head to Ecuador in September, where she would compete to win the international title, when she learned something that changed her entire world.
Zoiey has been competing in pageants for 10 years, but one thing the pageant director said to her made her decide to give up forever, and hand in her crown.
Keep reading to find out just why Zoiey has decided to retire from the pageant industry, and why she is now bravely speaking out against it on social media.
[H/T: Mashable]
Thumbnail Photo: Facebook / Zoiey Worlds
Meet Zoiey. She is a pageant queen, mom, and former Miss United Continents UK. According to her Facebook, she has also held the Ms World Great Britain and Miss United Kingdom crowns.
Zoiey is proud of her crowns. She has been a part of the pageant world for 10 years, and is deserving of all she's achieved.
But while she was gearing up to head to Ecuador for an international pageant, Zoiey was told something that changed her entire life. The director thought the 28-year-old mom needed to lose weight. According to Mashable, she was told, "They want you to go on a diet plan and they want you to lose as much weight as possible for the finals."
Zoiey was stunned. She said, "it was one of those things, in the 21st century you don't actually expect people to be that blunt." According to Mashable she is a size 10, which is a US size 6.
Zoiey decided she couldn't stand for that kind of mindset, so she made the controversial decision to withdraw from the pageant — and hand back her coveted crown.
After making that tough decision, Zoiey decided to open up about it on Facebook. She wanted to remind others that there is more to beauty than the size you wear. In an inspiring post, Zoiey writes,
I love me and will not change for anyone. My body has carried me through my 20+ years of being on this earth, allowed me to have a career I am very proud of, carry a child and the best thing of all, my body has never given up on me. I have had some really amazing experiences through being in the pageant industry and made some lifelong friends and memories. However I don't believe anyone should be able to manipulate you and dull your sparkle. If a pageant doesn't want to utilise my capabilities because I am a size 10 then it's their loss.
Zoiey's Facebook post got attention around the world. Many other women were inspired by her bravery, and her willingness to stand up for what she believes in. Her message is important not just for herself, but for millions of others all around the world.
Zoiey says she is thankful for all she has learned in pageants and for all the opportunities she's had, but that she believes it is time for her to step away for now. She hopes that her message can show other girls that they are more than the size of their body.
Do you think Zoiey did the right thing by giving up her crown? You can read her inspiring Facebook post in full here.
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