Representing England in the 2022 Miss Voluptuous Pageants final, Laura Davis is using her platform to break down the stigma of parenting LGBTQ+ people. (sponsored)
The queer beauty pageant winner says her success is “a big deal” for everyone who said a plus-size, LGBTQ+ stunner would never make it.
Much of Laura Davis’ early life revolved around beauty pageants. Her mother competed in several competitions throughout the 70’s.In fact, her parents met when Laura’s father, who worked as a dressmaker, made her mother a pageant gown .
Laura is a pageant winner in her own right after being named the first openly queer representative of England in the finals of the 2022 Miss Voluptuous Pageant. She will head to the US in April to represent the UK in a pageant with women from around the world.
For Laura, deciding to enter the high-pressure world of beauty pageants was partly out of love for competition, but partly as a “massive f**k you” for the skeptical.
“Ugly Sister”
“I was always branded as an ugly little sister by me and my siblings,” she said. pink news“Someone once said to me, ‘Oh, it’s a shame your sister didn’t make it to the pageant like your mother did.'”
Laura felt that the encounter wasn’t “intended to be as rude as it sounds,” but admits that her style is “a whole different thing.”
She is a tall, plus-sized woman covered in tattoos that she describes as a “very vibrant look.”
It’s not a “traditional pageant girl look,” but Laura didn’t want to “follow a stereotype.” , compete as your authentic self.
“It’s just to show people that you can do exactly what you want,” she says.
“No need to follow. Don’t be afraid to break stereotypes along the way.”
And so far she’s been excellent.
Laura explained that the pageant system she chose is “platform-based.” It is based entirely on an individual’s philanthropic and community contributions, or ‘how much they are trying to make the world a better place’.
She defends two causes. Since she is partially sighted, it is the awareness of her vision loss and the support of her LGBTQ+ people who are her parents. Laura is a parent herself and her father is also gay.
“For the last 30 to 40 years, I have watched fathers fight for their right to parenthood,” she says.
“Then obviously I followed in his footsteps – a queer woman and I have an incredible almost six-year-old. She’s a vibrant little one.
“It’s about breaking the stigma of having a family while being in a same-sex relationship.”
Laura says her partner is also involved in her beauty pageant mission, helping create pieces for her “totally ridiculous” drug-inspired wardrobe.
It’s important to Laura that the pageant scene is becoming more inclusive, as the world is “evolving to be a melting pot of people.” Her competitive system welcomes trans women and women of all sexualities “with open arms” and “open hearts.”
“You have to be inclusive these days. You have to see the world as it is,” she says.
“I think it’s a beautiful melting pot of people, showing people that life is evolving and people are evolving, not just glitz. “
She continues: His father always knew he was gay, but his grandfather was very traditional and unwilling to accept his sexuality.
“He is [my grandfather] My father felt he could be himself.
“Knowing that he went through years of turmoil, [it’s] It’s great to see the world as it is, without holding back and representing everyone. “
Laura said this point was important to her because she was “going into middle age” and wanted to show that “life doesn’t end when you turn 40 or become a parent.” increase.
She has seen many women in their 40s and 50s attend the ceremony and “just change, evolve and gain confidence” from the experience.
Laura says Her confidence has grown in her five years on the beauty pageant scene and she wants to empower more women to live and thrive as their authentic selves.
