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01/08/2021
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Date published: 01 August 2021
Saskia Fauguel. Photo: Flawless Studios
An NHS junior doctor who grew up in Smithy Bridge and holds the current Miss Bradford title is hoping to be crowned Miss England this month after breaking records and gaining the most votes from the public.
Saskia Fauguel, 27, who works at Bradford Royal Infirmary, qualified for the Miss England final after receiving a record-breaking 27,000 votes from the public in the wildcard category.
She now lives in Todmorden and works as a medical junior doctor with a special interest in mental health and specialising in psychiatry at Bradford Infirmary, and has also led projects on suicide prevention awareness and carried out research into alcohol dependency, the severity and relapse, and providing social support.
Saskia is currently undergoing a six-year process of becoming a psychiatrist and has been offered a job with NHS Greater Manchester.
A former pupil at Rochdale Sixth Form College, Saskia graduated from the University of Bradford in 2019 and subsequently took up junior doctor roles in Grimsby and then Bradford working in psychiatry, ENT (ear, nose and throat) and A&E.
Saskia Fauguel, 27, who works at Bradford Royal Infirmary, qualified for the Miss England final after receiving a record-breaking 27,000 votes from the public in the wildcard category
“I was one of the first students at Rochdale Sixth Form. After going to high school at Crompton House in Shaw, I wanted a change and to study more locally. I picked things I was interested in as I didn’t really know what I wanted to do for a career, so I studied psychology, sociology and law,” Saskia commented.
“I trusted I’d find my way by doing things I enjoyed. I was never really academic; I got mostly C grades in high school but wanted to do better in college. I knew I wanted to be a psychiatrist after learning about mental illness in psychology; I wanted to know more and help others. I wanted to be able to listen and work out connections that maybe people couldn’t see themselves, and help them write a happier, healthier chapter to the rest of their story.”
Saskia gained two A*s and one A in her A-levels, but knew she needed a pathway into medicine: “I am a very determined person and it was difficult for me to become a doctor. I was the first in my family to go to university straight out of college and did not have science A-levels, or the predicted grades.
“I didn’t know anyone who was a doctor or even anyone who went to uni straight from college. Some people told me I’d never be able to do it and that I should focus on applying for something else, that even if I could, being a doctor would create obstacles if I wanted to have a family.
“It was tough: I kept up my studies but I was very demotivated.”
Upon completing her A-levels, Saskia found a four-year foundation biomedical science course, which she hoped to complete before graduate medicine. But deep down, she knew the course – miles from home – wasn’t what she wanted.
Her family spent weeks trying to help her to find a solution, before finding a clearance course at Bradford University for clinical sciences. Saskia landed an interview the very next day and was accepted, starting the “tough” course just 10 days later.
Saskia is the current Miss Bradford
The course, she explained, gave 20 students the opportunity to transfer to Leeds Medical School, depending on performance. And after two years, Saskia was one of those selected, studying at Leeds and West Yorkshire Hospitals until she graduated.
She said: “After two years I managed to make it, thanks to my friends and family and Bradford. I am starting my psychiatry training job in a few weeks in Bury after a few years working in Yorkshire. It feels like I've come full circle on my life and dreams.
“A lot of people told me ‘no’ and I think it is important to keep trying no matter how impossible things may seem because if you have a dream and know you can do it then keep going.
“It is tough because there’s a lot of pressure to perform and know what you want to do at a young age. It’s a journey, and journeys involve detours, which can sometimes be the best part in the end. Grades can sometimes be a setback, but it’s not the end of the road.”
©Flawless Studios
After a recent four stone weight loss, a newly-confident Saskia then opted to enter the Miss England pageant. She was crowned Miss Bradford as the Miss England competition continued online with most of the 40 finalists being chosen virtually during lockdown.
“The reason I applied for Miss England was because I wanted to prove beauty is from within, from kindness. That no matter what you look like, what your size, you can be a beautiful person.
“You can achieve your dreams, no matter how hard things seem. I guess I just wanted to encourage others, and see that it's possible. To help spread awareness and raise money for mental health too, especially Alzheimer’s which has always been something close to my heart and what my grandma suffers with.
“I think the most beautiful things is helping others and being a kind person. I want to advocate that, and be a good role model for the community. To try your best, to be your best and healthiest version of yourself. We're all unique with our own beauty and challenges, so keep going, and you can achieve anything, and when you do, make sure you pass that on and build up others.”
Saskia in her eco round dress - made entirely from plants
“This is my first year of competing and I am super excited and fully intend to make the most of it,” continued Saskia. “I’m so honoured to hold the title of Miss Bradford as it’s the only place that gave me a chance for medicine. I’m very grateful to the community, the university, the teachers and the hospital.
“Rochdale College and my teachers inspired me, and it’s where I found my dream and purpose. Bradford and Yorkshire gave me the opportunity to work towards it. I’m so happy and grateful to have achieved my dreams; I'm going back to work in the place the journey all started and intend to encourage and help everyone I can achieve their dreams too.”
The prestigious Miss England final includes a sports round and a talent round. Contestants will also be creating their own ethically-sourced eco outfit made from recycled materials and taking part in a bare face ‘no make-up’ top model round.
The Miss England final also involves a head to head interview/Zoom challenge and a Climate Queen will be crowned after a tree planting pledge challenge for each of the finalists. Contestants will also take part in the flawless photographic contest.
The contestants are raising funds for Beauty with a Purpose, a charity created by Julia Morley in 1972 and owned by Miss World which helps disadvantaged children. In addition to Beauty with a Purpose, Saskia is raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
You can support Saskia’s fundraising efforts here, or donate towards planting trees here.
The winner of Miss England will go forward to the 70th Miss World final in Puerto Rico in December with the chance to win $100,000.
The Miss England final takes place in Coventry on 27 August.
You can vote for Saskia - who currently has the most votes - by downloading the Miss England app and selecting her image. One vote each day is free.
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