A retired beauty queen who though her days of pageants were long behind her has revealed how she’s embracing the glitz and glamour once again at 53, after finding new confidence post-menopause.
Laura White, who lives in Leominster, Hereford, began loving her body when she hit the half a century mark after years of feeling self-conscious.
The mum-of-two states many women feel ‘invisible’ when they reach 40 including herself.
But she was determined to overcome and adapt to life after menopause – she now insists life is better because she has completed a teaching degree, been abseiling and is currently competing in a beauty pageant.
Laura White, 53, who lives in Leominster, Hereford, feels ‘sexier’ after going through the menopause and is a contestant inthe Ms Great Britain beauty pageant
The mother-of-two said lots of women – including herself – feel ‘invisible’ when they reach 40, but she wants to inspire others
Laura, pictured with her son Rhys and daughter Erin and her husband at her graduation, completed a teaching degree at 45
After working as a primary school teacher until the age of 50, Laura set up my her pageant with a friend – Pageant Queen UK. She is currently a finalist in Miss Great Britain
She said: ‘Menopause has many negative connotations.
‘Just because our menstrual cycle stops doesn’t mean life should.
‘When my kids Rhys, 24, and Erin, 20, left home to go to university – I felt like I didn’t know what my purpose was anymore.
‘But now I have had a new zest for life.
The former teacher was a finalist in Miss Great Britain 1989, but her pageant dreams were put on hold after she got married and started a family
According to Laura, although she was ‘prettier and firmer’ when she was younger, she was much more self-conscious.
The 53-year-old said she never thought she would step back onto a pageant stage – but she is currently a finalist in Miss Great Britain, competing against women almost 1o-years younger
Laura says that the saying ‘with age comes wisdom’ is definitely true – and that she is more confident and less self-conscious now she is older
‘I completed a teaching degree at 45 and worked as a primary school teacher until I was 50.
‘I then set up my own pageant with a friend called Pageant Queen UK and I am currently a finalist in Miss Great Britain.’
This isn’t the first time Laura has stepped on stage in a sexy swimsuit.
She was a finalist in Miss Great Britain 1989 but then her dream of taking home the crown was put on hold as she got married and started a family.
She says despite competing against women from the age of 45, she is not letting their age hold her back, as she is feeling sexier than ever before
Laura wanted to give pageants another go, in order to show women her age that ‘anything is possible’
By sharing her story, she wants to encourage other women to ‘step outside their comfort zone and do something they love’
The 53-year-old wants to ‘show other women that menopause doesn’t have to be a negative milestone’
Laura is confident this time, things will be different as she feels ‘sexier’ after menopause.
She adds: ‘I am also much more confident and believe in myself more than I did in my twenties.
‘Even though you are prettier and firmer when you are younger, you are much more self-conscious.
‘The saying ‘with age comes wisdom’ is definitely true.
‘I am competing against women from the age of 45.
‘But I’m not letting their age hold me back as I am feeling sexier than ever before.’
Laura has shared images from Miss Great Britain 1989.
It is clear to see she has aged well as her size eight physique has remained the same.
She said: ‘Once I got married, I wasn’t able to compete again as the rules were much stricter.
‘I never thought I’d step back on stage but here I am.
‘I wanted to give it another go and show women my age that anything is possible.
‘It is hard not to lose your identity when you get to your 40s and 50s.
‘Many women feel invisible when they get to 40.
‘I hope to encourage them to step outside their comfort zone and do something they love.
‘I have a young head on my shoulders which has given me a modern outlook on life.
‘I hope my story shows other women that menopause doesn’t have to be a negative milestone.’