6ft paramedic tackles anxiety by vowing to win Miss England beauty pageant

Alice Jones has hung up her NHS scrubs for the catwalk

ByJames Rodger 05:00, 29 APR 2022

Paramedic Alice Jones faced crippling anxiety swapped her ambulance for the catwalk as she bids to become the next Miss England winner (Image: Miss England / SWNS)

An NHS paramedic has beaten anxiety over her 6ft height as she swaps her uniform for the catwalk. Alice Jones has vowed to become the next winner of Miss England after feeling "like a freak" throughout school.

The 26-year-old had to attend therapy and take five months off work to help with her crippling anxiety, self-doubt and body images issues. Alice said the issues stemmed from her childhood and continued into her adult life.

After working all hours during Covid with the West Midlands Ambulance Service, she bravely overcame her lack of self-confidence and entered the Miss England competition. And last weekend (April 23), Alice swapped her scrubs and boots for high-heels and a dress as she modelled at the National Prom Show in Birmingham, reports BirminghamLive.

Alice was announced as the winner which automatically gave her a spot in the Miss England semi finals 2022 beauty competition. The young woman from Walsall said: "Miss England has always been something I have been interested in, but I never thought I had the confidence to do it.

"Mentally, I had a lot of self-doubt and problems with body image issues, but over the last couple years I have been on a journey of self-discovery. After overcoming that, I thought why not enter. It is the last year I can enter Miss England because of my age.

“I entered as a challenge for myself as it’s completely different to my day to day job as a paramedic. I went from spending most my time in steel toe capped boots and my hair in a messy bun to wearing a fancy dress with my hair and make up done.

Alice was announced the winner at the National Prom Show last weekend which gave her a spot in the Miss England semi-finals (Image: Miss England / SWNS)

"The day was amazing, I met some lovely people and I actually really enjoyed pushing myself out my comfort zone, walking down the catwalk. It is more a confidence boost for me. I have never done anything like it before."

She added: "I had five months of therapy and it made me realise a lot of things and what is important. There is more to life than being anxious and self-conscious. Working through the pandemic probably played a small part but it also probably stemmed a lot from childhood.

"Growing up, I believed I was not worth anything and that I was thick. Because I am 6ft, I felt like a bit of a freak because I was so tall.

"I never really had relationships because I was taller than all over the boys - that did nothing for my confidence. I had to make a conscious effort to slouch."

Alice said even in her job as a paramedic, she felt as if she didn't deserve to be there. "The pandemic was tough, she added. "The people you were going to were really poorly. I knew I was taking them away and that they were not coming back.

"I didn't see any family during the pandemic. It was quite isolating. But now, I have the confidence to enter this competition. I am looking forward to what the future holds and I welcome every challenge that comes my way."

She added: "It’s proof with enough determination you can achieve anything you put your mind to. My message to younger girls is to put yourself and get yourself out of the comfort zone. Getting through to the semi-finals was something I never expected, honestly I am so honoured and I am really enjoying the process so far."

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/6ft-paramedic-tackles-anxiety-vowing-23793429