JESSICA Ford’s a survivor – and she’s putting the Survivors Trust front and centre of her campaign to be Miss UK International.
The Survivors Trust is the UK’s umbrella organisation for specialist rape and sexual abuse support services, and the 20-year-old from Dorridge has first hand experience of the cases they deal with, as she too is a survivor of sexual assault.
“My aim is to raise awareness of what they do – they’re based all over the country and it’s not just women they deal with but men too, in fact not enough is said about male survivors,” said Jessica who had been studying Law at university before having to give it up.
“I was in a bit of a rut, then I came across the Miss International pageantry and you know, it’s not about toddlers and tiaras it’s about empowering women and boosting their confidence, so that’s how I got here,” she said.
Alongside promoting the Survivors Trust she’s also highlighting child poverty and raising the issue of decent school meals.
The UK final is in Manchester with the international final set for Japan and Jessica has already won the backing of local firms such as Franchesco Group Knowle, Ivory Tower bridal shop, also in Knowle and Giovanni’s Restaurant in Dickens Heath.
However her chosen causes are the most important issue: “My aim is to get back into Law but these causes are close to my heart and I will do everything I can to promote them.”
For more on the Survivors Trust visit: https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/
