A taxi driver has revealed how she won a national beauty pageant and will now represent the UK in an international competition.
Caitlin Nash-Robinson, 32, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, first developed a passion for pageantry when she volunteered backstage in 2014 before getting her own opportunity to hit the catwalk in 2017.
She has also been driving taxis for last four-and-a-half years for her family business, QA Taxis.
After winning ‘Miss Diamond Curve UK’ in Leeds, she is now eligible to compete internationally and she will jet to Las Vegas, US, in July 2023 for the ‘Regency International Pageant’.
Caitlin Nash-Robinson (pictured), from Grantham, Lincolnshire, has been driving taxis for last four-and-a-half years for her family business, QA Taxis
She began competing at ‘Miss Devine UK’ in 2017 and since then she’s driven 8,000 miles to compete in the last five years.
She finished third in the same competition just four years later in 2021.
Caitlin, who wears a size 22, also finished runner up in ‘Miss Voluptuous UK’ in July 2022.
But she says her biggest achievement to date came just two months ago when she won the title of ‘Miss Diamond Curve UK’ in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
When she’s not driving passengers, Caitlin is competing in beauty pageants and transporting herself to the next competition up
She began competing at ‘Miss Devine UK’ in 2017 and finished third in the same competition just four years later in 2021
Caitlin and her rivals were judged on their outfits, stage presence and confidence.
Her title means she is now eligible to compete internationally and she will jet to Las Vegas, US, in July 2023 for the ‘Regency International Pageant’.
Despite her love for pageantry, Caitlin has no plans to make the permanent switch from being a cabbie.
Caitlin, said: ‘Pageantry is a hobby for me. I love my job, I enjoy my taxi driving job. It’s lots of driving and lot of hours, but I don’t know if I could do anything else.
Caitlin’s new title means she is now eligible to compete internationally and she will jet to Las Vegas, US, in July 2023 for the ‘Regency International Pageant’
According to Caitlin, pageantry is a hobby as she loves her and does not know if she could do anything else now
‘Pageantry gave me a huge boost of confidence. When I got the opportunity to go on stage myself for the first time, I just got the bug straight away.
‘They say you’re in a sisterhood in pageantry and although you’re in competition with each other, you’re all there to support each other too.
‘I’m excited and nervous about Las Vegas but I want to take every opportunity I can.
‘I wouldn’t say proud to be plus-size because of the medical conditions with my weight.
She claimed pageantry gave her a huge boost of confidence and when she got the opportunity to go on stage for the first time she got the bug straight away
Caitlin said the pageantry is a sisterhood, and even though you’re in competition with each other all the contestants support one another
‘But I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I now wear things I would’ve never worn before.’
Caitlin won the curve category at Miss Diamond UK and says she wasn’t pressured to enter the curve category simply because of her weight – instead choosing to do so to represent other plus-size women.
She said: ‘I wasn’t pressured to go into the curve category. I could have gone in any category, but I’m proud to represent curved women so that’s why I went for the curve one.
‘I’m proud to be an advocate for people who’ve faced prejudice against their body and anybody who messages me about that I’m always happy to answer questions.
Despite her love for pageantry, Caitlin has no plans to make the permanent switch from being a cabbie
Caitlin said her work is flexible with work and she still keeps family business in the loop when doing competitions
‘I get a lot of people commenting ‘I wish I had your confidence’ and it’s not an easy process. It takes time and you’ll have setbacks. Every day’s a learning curve.
‘I’m trying to promote the acceptance of everybody.’
Caitlin has two coaches that help her with her pageantry and says they’ve been ‘incredible’.
‘You’re judged on stage presence, how the outfit suits you against your skin tone, confidence on stage, eye contact, and walking confidently,’ she said.
Caitlin said she always looks at the interview category like a job interview – admitting you have to know what you want to say to the judges to sell yourself as you only have three to five minutes
Caitlin was left in floods of teas after she was named Miss Diamond Curve UK 2022 earlier this year
Caitlin won the curve category at Miss Diamond UK and said she wasn’t pressured to enter the curve category simply because of her weight
She added: ‘I have two coaches – one helps with the interview that you have with the judges and the other is my walk coach.
‘I always look at the interview like a job interview – you have to know what you want to say to the judges to sell yourself as you only have three to five minutes.
‘My walk coach is just incredible, she’s competed at international level before.
‘I’ve been fortunate as well as one of my coaches was same size as me so I could use her costumes.’
Caitlin’s job as taxi driver in her family business means she’s not only used to driving from competition to competition but she can balance her time between her work and her hobby with flexibility.
‘It’s flexible with work and I still keep family business in the loop when doing competitions,’ she said.
Caitlin’s job as taxi driver in her family business means she’s not only used to driving from competition to competition, but she can balance her time between her work and her hobby with flexibility
‘It’s very easy to balance time as if I take extra time to go to an event then I know I can do a few extra hours the next day or next week.
‘I must have done 7,000 or 8,000 miles driving to competitions in the last two years alone.’
Caitlin said she initially had to explain her love for pageantry to her family, but they were very supportive.
She said: ‘It was just about explaining the idea of it and the understanding of it.
‘There is a typical stereotype for beauty pageants and I’m not that stereotype.
‘But that’s what I like about pageants now as there are plenty that are accepting of all backgrounds and looks.
Caitlin was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in 2020 – which can make it harder for her to lose weight
‘Miss Universe now accept trans women and mothers which they never used to.
‘A lot of places are developing as society develops.’
Caitlin was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in 2020 – which can make it harder for her to lose weight.
The condition affects one in every 10 women in the UK, according to the NHS, and can sometimes take more than two years to diagnose.
She said: ‘Doctors just told me to manage my weight.
‘But everybody is different and what might work for somebody won’t work for somebody else.
‘As part of my pageant journey I’ve got a platform and I wanted to figure out a way to share information with others.
‘I thought: ‘If I’m doing my own research into my diagnosis, how many other people are doing their own research?’
‘I share a lot of information from sources and interview people with conditions.
‘Having people speak about it might inspire somebody else to find out that that’s them.’
Whilst she has no plans to take up pageantry full time, Caitlin says she would love to appear in the New York or Paris Fashion Week, as other pageantry winners have.
‘Pageantry is getting bigger in the UK but there’s not always monetary prizes to be won,’ she said.
‘Some of the past winners of Regency have had the opportunity to walk in New York or Paris Fashion Week.
‘Representing plus-size women on that level. I’d love to do that.’
READ MORE:
United front! Queen Margrethe of Denmark is joined by her Prince Frederik and his wife Mary for New Year’s reception – after confessing it ‘hurt’ to strip her younger son’s children of their titles
82 ways to survive 2023: Visit a car showroom, watch Flog It!, start skipping… Our favourite celebrities share their happiness secrets
Queen’s third cousin King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden marks the start of his Golden Jubilee year with a new official portrait
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk