Cheryl Broadfoot and Miss Manchester
What makes Miss Manchester different from other beauty competitions?
One clue lies in the character of its organiser, Cheryl Broadfoot.
Cheryl is re-booting Miss Manchester so that there is more emphasis on the inner beauty of the contestants.
This change reflects her passion for the competition and its potential to change people’s lives.
Revive chats to Cheryl about taking over the competition and what it means to her, and the Greater Manchester region.
AN INSTINCT FOR INNER BEAUTY
Cheryl was already a creative director of Miss Manchester when the opportunity came to buy the franchise and take it over completely.
“I’d enjoyed my involvement up to that point, but there were things I wanted to do differently.”
For Cheryl, there is a lot more to becoming Miss Manchester than merely being pretty.
“You’ve got to be passionate about the city and the region; otherwise it’s pointless. Miss Manchester is about being an ambassador and inspiring others.”
Cheryl found the original incarnation of the competition too superficial.
“It was all a bit remote, where candidates were chosen on the basis of the photographs they submitted.”
Cheryl wanted more emphasis on personality, and on the stories, the girls had from all over Greater Manchester.
Some have been through traumatic life experiences and events, such as domestic violence and the Manchester Arena bombing. But there has also been a massive amount of positivity and individual drive.
“Beauty fades,
but who you really are
is what matters.”
“There’s more to them than looks. They’ve got an edge and each story they tell is very much their own, and often extremely moving.”
Cheryl says it sometimes feels like she has 22 little sisters, all vying for attention but each entertaining in their unique way.
This will make it a tough call for this year’s competition judges.
“They’ll have to sit up and take notice because this is a proper platform for the contestants to become ambassadors for the region.”
The contestants have the opportunity to display inner as well as outer beauty, and to demonstrate self-knowledge.
“Beauty fades, but who you are, is what matters.”
SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE
Cheryl’s background is an accumulation of different skills. She was a teenage British Dance Champion who went on to become a professional choreographer.
She has worked with big names and on significant events, such as the Brit Awards. She has also spent plenty of time in LA, and seen both the glamorous outer shell and the not so attractive underside of the entertainment industry.
“I’ve witnessed the potential pitfalls and dangers, which makes me particularly protective of the Miss Manchester girls.”
She returned from LA, became a parent and found a route back into work through working for an events charity.
“I ended up working as the choreographer for Miss Manchester, which has led, eventually, to me taking it over.”
Cheryl’s own experience, working with a wide variety of people, informs the culture of the competition.
“It’s about teaching people to give something back and not just take from their surroundings. It’s about encouraging them to engage with all sorts of people.”
For Cheryl, these are not old-fashioned values, but rather timeless ones, fit for now and for the future.
“We want Miss Manchester to feel accessible and real. I’ve followed my gut instincts with it.”
The final stage of Miss Manchester 2019 took place at Vanitas on Bridge Street, in Manchester city centre.
It attracted its share of influencers and big names, but the most significant influence of all was the city itself and the authentic people who represent it.
To sponsor in the next Miss Manchester Competition contact Cheryl at
cheryl@missmanchesterofficial.co.uk
www.missmanchesterofficial.co.uk
