Eleven years after first winning the Miss Newcastle crown, Melissa Crawford has returned to the pageant stage to claim the title of Ms Newcastle Great Britain. Her victory sends a clear message to those who have judged her for being 'too muscly for a woman,' as she embraces her bodybuilding physique and advocates for female empowerment.
A Triumphant Return
Melissa Crawford, a proud Geordie lass and former Miss Newcastle, won the Ms Newcastle Great Britain title this month, marking her first pageant competition in over a decade. The 37-year-old bodybuilder, who has competed across Europe and the USA in the last six years, said she was unsure how her new physique would be received but now aims to inspire other women.
"I've always been a girly girl who loves to put on a nice dress but what weightlifting quickly gave me was a real sense of empowerment," she told ChronicleLive. "Being able to walk into the gym and lift heavier than the lads does feel good! Bodybuilding has given me this new confidence. I'm all for being ladylike, but I'm also here to take up space both physically and from a confidence point of view."
Challenging Stereotypes
Melissa, who got into bodybuilding after a heartbreak, said she has faced criticism for her muscular build. "I've been told by someone to my face that I wasn't how a woman 'should' look," she recalled. "I might not fit into my old dresses anymore because of my back being bigger and I've always had big legs but now I'm proud of them!"
Her victory aims to encourage young girls not to fear sports or weightlifting. "I want the girls out there who are scared to play sport or lift weights because they're worried they'll get 'too big' to know that I've got big shoulders, delts and biceps and I won a pageant," she said. "That filled me with so much pride and, while there might be people might tell you that a woman with muscles isn't pretty, they are and there's no reason why they shouldn't be!"
Inspiring the Next Generation
Melissa plans to use her platform to work with schools and charities to positively influence younger women. "I thought I had all the answers at 26 and I really didn't," she admitted. "I feel as though I've talked the talk and now I want to walk the walk."
She will now represent Newcastle at the Ms Great Britain competition in October, where she hopes to continue breaking barriers and promoting body positivity.
