‘Why I’m trying to become Ms Great Britain at 62 years old’
A 62-year-old woman is competing as a Ms Great Britain finalist in honour of her mum who died of ovarian cancer at the same age.
Deborah Robbins Giles, a retired ambulance dispatcher from Dudley, West Midlands, has spent the 14 years following her mother, Pauline Robbins' death in 1995, working as a carer for her elderly relatives.
Deciding she needed a bit more glam in her life, when she saw the Ms Great Britain pageant was taking applications she decided to go for it with support from her husband, Paul Robbins Giles, 64.
After being accepted last year, but not being able to compete due to ill health, Deborah was taken on as a finalist again this year and hopes to beat the competition to take home the title as a tribute to her mum.
“I was only in my 30s when my mum passed away," Deborah explains. "I'm an only child and my mum really was my best friend, it was a terrible experience."
Speaking about her decision to enter the prestigious pageant she adds: "When I was a teenager we used to watch it on the TV.
"If she [mum] is looking down she’ll be over the moon [to see me compete] whether I’m in the top three or not."
"People say it is so inspirational but the main reason I'm taking part is for my mum."
Deborah first entered the beauty pageant in 2023 after spotting an advert, which suggested older women could also enter.
Deciding she should put herself first and experience some glamour, she decided to put herself forward.
But she was also influenced to enter by the pageant's fundraising ties to Cancer Research – a cause she says is close to her heart.
Unfortunately after developing the "100-day cough” last year she was unable to compete but she applied again and was accepted once more for the 2024 finals.
As well as raising money for the charities associated with the competition – Cancer Research, Alex’s Wish and Bowel Babe, Deborah says the pageant has had a positive influence on her wellbeing, allowing her to focus on herself and boost her confidence.
She now wants to encourage other older ladies to think about entering.
"It builds your confidence," she explains. "It has been a completely different world for me to put on a nice dress and get my hair done.
“When you're caring for others you put your life on hold, you don't matter so much – there’s a pecking order and you’re right at the bottom of it.
"Being glam was the last thing on my mind.
"But this has allowed me to focus on myself.
"And raising funds means it is a double bonus for me.”
Deborah isn't the only 50 plus woman showing you're never too old to be a beauty queen. Last year a mum and daughter were celebrating having both been crowned winners of a national beauty pageant just 12 months apart.
Chloe-Rose Adkin followed in her mother's footsteps to be Miss Galaxy 2023, a year after her mum Helen, then 58, won the UK’s National Classic Ms title at the same venue.
Chloe-Rose decided to enter her mum into her first pageant, without her knowing, and a year later Helen was shocked to scoop the winner's crown.
"At my age we tend to do everything for other people, so it was amazing to just have this for myself and work towards something just for me," Helen explains.
"When I found out Chloe had entered me, I felt really nervous at first, but I really loved it," she continues. "It gave me such a confidence boost.
"There were a lot of other ladies who supported me through it, pageants are not just a young person thing anymore."
Additional reporting SWNS.
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