Daisy Whetlor. Pic by Paul Carroll of Monsignorphotographic
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Beauty queen Daisy to raise awareness of condition
By Elena CresciOctober 15, 2012
A TEENAGE beauty from Blackwater diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis has won the coveted title of Miss Teen Great Britain.
Daisy Whetlor triumphed over sixty finalists, walking away with the crown after last week's grand final. The 15-year-old only revealed her condition to the organisers after she won the title.
Diagnosed when she was just 12 years old, the new Miss Teen Great Britain now hopes to raise awareness of rheumatoid arthritis in young people.
She said: "Being a teen can be difficult enough with starting secondary school, so I was quite petrified when I found out that I had arthritis.
"If I had had someone my age to talk to and who understood my situation, it would have been so much easier. I want to support those who are going through what I did,
"I know what it is like but the condition does not mean you have to stop living a ‘normal life.’ I am proof of that."
Her mum Kirsty Fletcher, whose business Spa Angels sponsored the teen, said the whole family was ecstatic about the win. She said: "I am so proud of her and she really does deserve it."
She added: "Of course, it is not usually a condition that you associate with young girls, so it was quite a shock when she was diagnosed. But she hasn't once moaned or complained about it, even when she gets more tired than her mates and has to take medication all the time.
"She is just so good about it."
Now the Year 11 pupil at Yateley Secondary School plans to juggle her GCSE work and acting ambitions with her duties as Miss Teen Great Britain. She is now set to work with Arthritis Research UK to raise awareness about the condition amongst young people.
The director of Miss Teen Great Britain Holly Ikin praised Daisy's charm and personality, saying this was a big part of what won the judges over on the day.
"When you meet her, she's clearly got such a bubbly personality. The standard of the girls this year was very high and Daisy completely embodied all of the qualities the judges were looking for.
"We were shocked to discover that Daisy suffered from arthritis.
She was explaining to us that, as Miss Teen Great Britain, her aim is to raise awareness about the condition, especially amongst young people, as she knows how hard it can be to be diagnosed with it at such a young age."
For more information on Miss Teen Great Britain, contact Holly Ikin on 01925 767884 or email info@missteengreatbritain.co.uk.
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