'Cruel bullies called me Oompa Loompa but I got the last laugh as a model'
After being cruelly taunted for her height and being asked if she shops in Mothercare, this woman got the last laugh when she became a beauty queen.
Catherine-Leigh Cleaves, who is 4'10, was taunted at school by cruel bullies who called her an Oompa Loompa, leaving her struggling with anxiety. Detirmined to turn the negative trolls into a win, the model uses their hate to fuel her dreams.
Despite being told she's too small to model, Catherine has gone on to become the UK's shortest beauty queen as she entered the Miss England competition this year, and has shattered all stereotypes of tall women dominating beauty pageants.
Catherine-Leigh is 4'10 and the shortest ever Miss England contestant (SWNS)
Catherine has hopes to be crowned the next Miss England, alongside fellow contestant Imogen Browne (SWNS)The 26-year-old from Bognor Regis, West Sussex opened up about the cruel comments which often left her in tears. She said: "As a child, I was picked on – I was a prime target for the bullies. I was asked if I bought my clothes in Mothercare or if I was 'wearing my baby grow' today. This affected me in ways I can't put into words. I am a short girl with anxiety and the treatment I received from other people in school made my life harder for me.
"I constantly felt like people would quite literally talk down to me, asking me if the weather was different down there and if I wanted my highchair at the table to eat. I was always having degrading names hurled at me, just because I was short," she recalled.
Love Island's Zara sparks Ofcom storm as fans rush to complain about ugly scenes
The painful memories have stayed with her, but she's determined to push through and compete as a beauty queen and beat the bullies. The model was announced as one of the semi-finalists for the Miss England competition this year, making her the shortest contestant in the 94-year history of the pageant.
The beauty queen now hopes to inspire other women and said: "I want to able to inspire shorter ladies to actually go for it. A lot of women hold back because of their height or weight. If I can inspire other ladies, then that's great." Catherine is now very proud of her height, and loves working with her mum to make alternations for her pageant outfits.
"As time has gone on I have come to terms with the fact I will always be short and I'm okay with that now. I'm quite proud of my height, it's an accomplishment being the shortest person ever in such a massive competition. The whole modelling industry is a tall woman-oriented industry. A lot of photographers say that I'm the shortest model they've worked with.
She hopes to inspire other women (SWNS)"I got into modelling around 21/22 – all the girls were Empire State Building tall but I soon grew in confidence. Constantly I would be told that I was too short to be within that industry and it is predominately for tall people with long legs. But they were wrong, I have been published in magazines, I'm always having photoshoots with different photographers and now I am a semi-finalist in the Miss England competition."
After seeing applications advertised to enter the competition, she decided to take the plunge and go for it. She said: "I applied and put myself out there. It went to a public vote and I was number one. I got an email to say that I'm in the semi-finals. I didn't expect to get to the finals. I am a little bit nervous to be around people who are so much taller than me and blend into the background. On the other hand, it might give me more recognition.
"I have one dress, but it's too long on me. I find jeans ok as I can get them in the kid's section. But for dresses, unless I want 'Hello Kitty' on them, I have to get my mum to make alterations. In shoes, I'm a size 2.5. I don't mind getting shoes in the kids sections.
"There's probably many women out there 4ft 10 and under, I want to inspire them to go for it. Chase your dreams and make them your reality and don't let anyone make you feel like you don’t belong somewhere because of who you are. Love yourself and everyone else will follow."
Miss England organiser Angie Beasley said: "Unlike model agencies, we don't have height restrictions in Miss England. We look for inspiring females to take part in the contest like Catherine. I wish her all the best."
Catherine will be taking part in the Miss England semi-final at Viva Blackpool on April 7.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
