A BOWEL cancer patient is set to compete in a beauty pageant that aims to promote body confidence.
Karen Bucknall is preparing to take part in the finals of Miss Voluptuous UK, set to take place in July in Nottinghamshire.
The 52-year-old, who grew up in Acocks Green, will be representing a number of cancer charities as she takes to the stage.
She said: “Women in remission from cancer and those with hidden disabilities should enter empowerment pageants. Just because they have surgery scars or wear colostomy bags, it doesn’t mean it should stop them from competing in pageants or doing fashion modelling.”
Karen says she will be one of the first in the world, to be an over 50, plus-size woman, in remission from bowel cancer and wears a colostomy bag, to enter a pageant.
Karen is very proud of her scars. They are to her beautiful silver threads of bravery, courage and determination to get better and start a new post cancer life.
She was diagnosed with cancer in April 2019 and had the tumour removed and colostomy bag fitted in November of the same year. In January 2020 she started a six-month course of chemotherapy and was forced to shield during the first national lockdown.
If she wins at the grand final, she will then move on to the next stage to represent the UK at the international pageant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
For more or to vote for Karen visit the Miss Voluptuous Pageants Facebook page.
