Guess What I Did!

Meet three inspiring women who followed their unlikely passions – and haven’t looked back

- Alice Grebot

VIVIENNE RADFAR, 58, works part-time as a PA. She lives in Newport Pagnell with her husband, Mehran, 60.

If someone had told me 10 years ago that I’d start taking part in beauty pageants at the age of 54, I’d never have believed them. Yet here I am, doing just that.

Before I discovered pageants, my confidence was non-existent. I needed something just for me; a frivolous way of escaping the stresses of daily life.

It was August 2015 and I’d recently returned from a relative’s wedding in Los Angeles. It was amazingly glamorous – we were treated like film stars and I loved the dressing up. When I chanced on an advert on social media for a pageant called ‘Miss Over 50 and Fabulous’ I realised it was exactly what I needed – complete escapism. I sent inthe application, along with a photo. I was delighted when I found out I was through.

We had a photo shoot the day before the pageant, a rehearsal on the day and then wore three outfits: occasion wear, fitness gear and evening wear. We were all asked why we wanted to win and I said I wanted to win it for my mum. I had such an amazing day I didn’t care if I won, so when they called me out as the winner, it was the icing on the cake. My wonderful mother, Hazel, was all dressed up in the audience. I put my winner’s crown on her head and had a photo taken with her. It was a special moment and I’m so pleased we made that memory to share while she was still mobile; sadly she’s now bedbound.