Menopausal mother in the final of the Ms Great Britain Classic beauty pageant says women should ‘squeeze every drop of fun from life’

A menopausal beauty pageant finalist says women should ‘squeeze every drop of fun from life’ as middle-age does not have to mean ‘cocoa and knitting’.

Gina Broadhurst, 47, said the menopause left her with ‘crushing exhaustion, brain fog and rage’ after two male gynaecologists said she could not have hormone replacement therapy due to a blood condition.

She ‘got her life back’ when she saw a female gynaecologist in February, who said while she cannot use HRT gels, she could have it in patch form. ‘It wasn’t instant, but I had the energy to be a mum and work again,’ she said.

The mother-of-two then bumped into a director of Ms Great Britain Classic – an off-shoot of Miss Great Britain for over-45s – who suggested she enter.

Mrs Broadhurst said: ‘I just laughed, saying I was obviously too old, and surely beauty pageants are for women with nothing else to do other than waddle around in swimsuits.’ 

Mrs Broadhurst, pictured with her husband Simon and two children, strugged with ‘debilitating’ periods, miscarriages and then the menopause

Mrs Broadhurst said the menopause left her with ‘crushing exhaustion, brain fog and rage’ after two male gynaecologists said she could not have hormone replacement therapy due to a blood condition

But when the director said the contest is ‘nothing like the sexist parades of the 1950s’ and had a strong focus on advocacy and charity work, she changed her mind.

Mrs Broadhurst, of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, is now through to October’s final. After struggling with ‘debilitating’ periods, miscarriages and then the menopause, she decided to champion women’s health.

She said: ‘You bring your message to the platform, and I knew exactly what mine would be. Midlife isn’t about cocoa and knitting, you shouldn’t just give up – it’s a whole, new, exciting life.’