Miss Manchester is back with a new 'Naked Beauty' round for 2020, asking contestants to remove their makeup and go back to basics.
Contest director Cheryl Broadfoot wanted the women to realise that they are beautiful and should feel confident from within, with or without make up.
She also wanted participants in Miss Manchester, Miss Greater Manchester, Miss Cheshire, Miss Lancashire to 'embrace their face' without the use of filters often used on social media.
Keen to reinforce the message that girls should believe in themselves, Cheryl also took part in the shoot, which she says was a 'massive thing' for her aged 50.
She said: "The girls' shots are all beautiful, and considering none of them have been able to hit a hair or beauty salon for nearly 14 weeks, their natural beauty shines through."
The round was shot in lockdown by Manchester photographer Tony Craig.
He said: "I rarely get the opportunity to shoot anyone outside of fashion, sport, TV and film.
"So when Cheryl explained to me her Miss Manchester vision regarding empowering women and encouraging them to embrace their natural and inner beauty, I instantly knew I had to get involved.
"I wanted to show these girls through my images, just how beautiful they are. I hope my work does them justice."
This year Cheryl received applications from 700 girls so it was expanded to Miss Manchester, Miss Greater Manchester, Miss Cheshire and Miss Lancashire.
Thirty seven girls decided to take part in this round, and all walked away feeling 'empowered and confident within themselves' says Cheryl.
Actress Alexandra Taylor, 23, who is competing for Miss Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 14.
She missed 'copious amounts of school' due to hospital appointments and wants to show that people can follow their own destinies.
The only subject she excelled in was drama and she ended up with two first class degrees in acting, one of them being a master’s degree from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
Over the years she has been part of several theatre companies.
Bubbly Akisha O'Grady, 20, wants to make change as a Miss Manchester finalist.
She grew up in south Manchester and is hoping her 'loud mouth' is going to help better her community in future.
"I make sure I get heard and get my point across," she said.
Miss Manchester contestant Amy Robbins, 19, from Bury, has modelled in the past and would love this contest to bring out her confidence more.
A talented artist, who spends most of her my days painting, colouring, or drawing, she is also a qualified makeup artist.
And her inspiration is Loose Women star Stacey Solomon.
"I think she is the most loving person ever. She can make a positive moment out of a rainy day," she said.
Motivational speaker Aliyah Patel, who is hoping to be crowned Miss Lancashire, wants to help raise mental health awareness on behalf of young people.
Eighteen-year-old Aliyah, from Blackburn, wants to represent her home town and those whose voices aren't heard.
She previously took part in the Blackburn With Darwen Youth Forum to raise awareness of mental health issues and knife crime.
Miss Cheshire hopeful Annaliese Chloe Jones, 21, from Tarporley, Cheshire, says she suffers with anxiety and is hoping the contest will help.
Chloe, who is studying education and fine art at the University of Chester, wants to help remove the stigma attached to mental health.
"I decided to enter Miss Cheshire this year to improve my confidence and to also prove to myself that the anxiety I'm currently dealing with does not define who I am," she said.
Becca Pendleton, 21, works in HR for a health and safety company in Wilmslow and is hoping to win the Miss Cheshire crown.
She entered because in 2018 her confidence was at an all time low and she noticed her mental heath was suffering.
"I wanted to do something big and something that made people notice me and see me for me," she explained.
"I can safely say that 2020 has been a year full of surprises, good and bad but I really want to do something this year that represents the positive and no matter how many times things go wrong or I get knocked back I want to prove I am strong enough to carry on and get back on my feet."
Charlotte Lily, 22, from Preston auditioned for the X Factor in 2018 and got to the six-chair challenge stage.
For her audition the musician and entrepreneur put a unique spin on the Village People's YMCA.
At the age of 11 she founded her first business selling floral accessories and by the age of 12 she had taught herself to play the guitar.
This year she launched an online funeral flower business and by the start of the lockdown she launched another supplying
luxury beauty wear for performers on stage.
Diandra Bryce, 26, is originally from Birmingham but moved to Manchester five years ago.
The womenswear designer says it's 'definitely my home now' and is thrilled to be competing for Miss Manchester.
"I've always strived to be independent and self sufficient and I think I could be a good role model to young women," she said.
Ciandra Birnbaum, 21, says she was 'severely overweight' and bullied when she was younger.
"I got bullied for being overweight in my childhood up to the age of 13 and it really affected my confidence," said Ciandra, who is competing for the Miss Lancashire title.
"I want to inspire others who have gone through hard times that they can do great things with their lives, she said.
Beauty really is from within. And I want to prove that."
Miss Cheshire hopeful Eleanor Farr, 25, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis - an autoimmune disease which means the immune system attacks healthy tissue - when she was 19, after suffering with sudden excruciating pain in her shoulder.
"My life was never the same again as I went from a normal life to being bed bound and immobilised from the pain and relying on my mum to dress me," she said.
"My whole life became hospital admissions, injections, drugs, morphine, steroids, chemotherapy, x-rays, constant pain and depression."
Aged 22, she needed a total hip replacement, but after more than three years of suffering, the right medication was found. She's now in remission.
Miss Cheshire contestant Emilia Lea, 19,has suffered a lot with her mental health since she was 13 and wants to help others.
"I’ve fought with so much strength and courage, alongside my family and friends, to become the woman I am today. I am no longer ashamed of or embarrassed by my scars but in fact see them as a reminder of my strength and bravery," she said.
"I wish to help others who are suffering to gain the confidence in loving every single part of yourself and realising that all of it makes us stronger and someone to be even more proud of."
Emily Rose Taylor, 22, wants to win Miss Cheshire and use this as a platform to help 'inspire, empower and influence others in a positive way.'
"These types of competitions help to build confidence, public speaking, believing in yourself and coming out of your comfort zone to try something different," said model Emily.
She also wants to raise awareness on homelessness and domestic violence.
Esme Holliday, 19, wants to he Miss Greater Manchester.
Esme, from Salford, grew up in a little village in Cumbria, but knew she was a city girl at heart.
She's competing in memory of her late friend Skye Mitchell who won Miss North West 2014/15.
"Although I don’t have Skye physically with me, I know she’s guiding me through this journey," she said.
Singer Eva Selmanaj, 20, applied to the X Factor two years in a row but didn't have chance to compete.
"I kept having these setbacks and I started to feel like I had let my family down. However, I was determined not to give up on my dreams."
She's now excited to be a Miss Manchester 2020 finalist after struggling with her insecurities and low self-esteem.
Gabrielle Morris, 19, is competing for the Miss Manchester title after being scouted in the street.
"I’ve been too scared to show people the real me in the past, but I’m ready to use my voice and this is the perfect platform to help me," she said.
The psychology student wants to represent Manchester because 'as a city, we’re bursting with character; from a variety of music, to art and fashion, sports, to nightlife.'
Givency Shono, 25, speaks English and French and her passion is traveling and teaching.
The Miss Greater Manchester finalist wants to be able to help those in need 'in every way possible'.
The PE teacher entered Miss Greater Manchester because she wants to inspire and be a 'big voice' for women suffering with issues such as low confidence, abusive relationships and experiencing racism.
Georgina Hobbs, 19, works as airline cabin crew and amid the coronavirus crisis she has been working as a 111 NHS call responder.
The Miss Greater Manchester hopeful from Altrincham wants to work in the police force by the time she reaches her my mid-20s.
"I consider myself a highly motivated individual who will push myself to do anything I put my mind to, all thanks to my parents," she said.
Grace McKenna, 26, says becoming Miss Lancashire would provide her with a platform to raise awareness for charities and those most in need.
"The beautiful county of Lancashire encompasses diverse communities, wildlife conservation and breath-taking landscapes," she said.
"I aim to make further impact on already existing female, environmental and educational causes within the community."
Hollie Williams, 26, says she encountered bullying while growing up but these experiences have made her the 'strong, independent woman' she is today.
The Miss Lancashire hopeful is a zoology student and another passion is athletics.
During the pandemic she's been working in her local Tesco and putting school work together for local children including maths, science, English, reading and writing.
Irram Zarqa, 18, was raised by a single mother and says her mother is her inspiration after raising her and her brother .
"She has always been independent, strong minded and caring. I have learnt many valuable lessons from her," she said. I On being a Miss Lancashire contestant she said: "I have always wanted to raise awareness for the people in need and Miss Lancashire will help gain a platform that will achieve this."
Teaching assistant and model Jenni Ryan, 24, says she used to be petrified about going to high school because of bullies, but is now gaining her confidence back and learning to love herself again.
"I want to represent Manchester because I am so relatable to everyone else," she said.
"I am an every day normal hard working girl in a regular every day job. I don’t always look or feel my best and I don’t pretend to be that way either."
Jessica McKenzie, 24, has suffered in the past from anorexia, bulimia and severe mental health problems.
She moved to Manchester from the Lake District at the age of 18 and gained a degree in Philosophy from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2017, but after this she found her mental health deteriorating again.
Just over a year later with the help from her family and friends she moved back to Manchester to begin the next chapter in her life and is now hoping to become Miss Manchester.
"I made a plea to myself and to those around me, that even if I can help to change the life of one person then I
know what I went through wasn’t for absolutely no reason," she said.
Kayleigh Kite, 23, a boxing events ring girl, wants to 'put Manny on the map' as Miss Manchester.
"I'd love to be the person to represent Manchester as it's my home city which I have so much love for," she said.
"I think the people of Manchester are amazing, it's such a diverse city, yet people don't hesitate to come together as one, especially in times of need which I find extraordinary."
Miss Cheshire contestant Kea Bell, 18, from Stockport, is a drummer and she also play the xylophone and timpani.
Kea, whose family originates from Jamaica, explained: "I want to represent Miss Cheshire as I think I represent the new generation of women who allow themselves to dream big and strive to be involved in things they’re passionate about.
"I’ve lived all over Manchester throughout my life but have always lived within the Cheshire borough and have always felt the community values here to the point where I feel like I would be a great representative of the county as I have mixed with all groups of people from many different backgrounds."
Keisija Bembere, 20, is from Latvia and now lives in Manchester.
An undergraduate student at the University of Manchester, she wants to represent Manchester 'because of its incredible potential and ability to inspire people to achieve great things in life.'
"I want to be able to encourage confidence, to strive for anything they put their mind to."
Maria Sophia Javed, 20, who has been an Irish dancer since the age of five, wants to represent Manchester and build self confidence among young women.
"I think this is very important in society bewildered by Instagrammed lives and epic photoshop skills, exploiting stereotypes of the ‘perfect body’ or female image which can cause not only a lack of confidence of young girls but also mental health issues at a disturbingly young age," she said.
"I want to prevent young girls from feeling inferior and build a team of girls that empower each other, showing them that they are all uniquely beautiful and valuable."
Nadia Bafekr, 23, studied dental hygiene at the University of Leeds.
She was scouted at work during a normal Thursday working at a dental practice in Salford.
"The last thing that I expected was for my patient to ask me if I would like to be part of the Miss Manchester Competition," she said.
Miss Lancashire candidate Mirjeta Krasniqi, 19, wants to inspire and be a role model to others.
"Most young women nowadays are full of fear and terrified of being judged because of the way other people may see them," she said.
"Being happy within yourself is the best way to live your life."
The Miss Manchester crown would fit well for Princess Mujinga, 20, because her friends often teasingly call her 'Mayor of Manchester' because she always speaks so highly of her home city.
"I love the friendly and welcoming spirit that is in Manchester," she said.
"Manchester is where I have grown up; there is no place like home."
Paige Horrocks, 24, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis and anxiety when she was 17.
Explaining why she entered the pageant she said: "I love that pageants are no longer about image, and I'd love to be able to have the chance to show that a girl like me, a plus sized girl, with a very long past and a life long mental health disorder, can be a chance to be a role model."
"I have had to deal with so much over the last 8 years or so due to this, things I would never wish upon anyone. There are times when I have felt like giving up, but no matter what life threw at me I always came back 10 times stronger and I now want to help people who have been through similar situations which is why I have my own mental health campaign."
Rebecca Guy, 24, wants to be Miss Manchester is sitting the final year of dentistry exams.
"Being an advocate of something as great as Miss Manchester would mean the world to me," she said.
"If I was lucky enough to be crowned, I could spread the message of oral and general health care and hopefully make a difference by having a more active role in charitable organisations."
Miss Greater Manchester finalist Samantha Holden, 22, developed several medical conditions in her later teens and was also diagnosed with depression.
"I feel like I now have the self-control required, along with people around me who understand how to deal with mental health," she said.
"I've contemplated entering Miss Greater Manchester for the past couple of years and never had the confidence to submit my application."
Eighteen-year-old Miss Cheshire finalist Scarlett Dean was named after the iconic Scarlett O'Hara character from the classic film Gone With The Wind and wants to become an actor.
"I have been acting since I was six-years-old in local theatre productions, pantomimes, plays and musicals," she said.
"I am going to study acting further and to make the jump from amateur to professional."
Saoirse Curran, 21, says she was bullied for the way she looked throughout school.
As she got older the aspiring Miss Cheshire started modelling which boosted her confidence.
"I had always felt self-conscious because of the bullies. I went from being anxious around people to finally being confident and able to be the sociable person I wanted to be," she said.
Tamar Barratt, 21, was born and raised in Manchester to parents who are both pastors, missionaries and authors and when she was younger they would travel the world together for their work.
She's helped to build orphanages in Uganda and South Africa.
She was persuaded to enter Miss Greater Manchester by her best friend who competed last year.
Tara Bharadia, 22, completed her degree in dentistry in Manchester and moved to the city four years ago.
"Manchester has made me grow and change as a person," she said.
"Studying an NHS degree has really opened my eyes to the ways I can help the wider community."
Last year she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.
Trudy-Ann Baroo, 23 is from Jamaica and emigrated to the UK in 2010 to join her father and stepmother.
"Though I was from a little rural town of Jamaica that lacked many resources my experience and my foundation have built me into the person I am today," she said.
She's competing for the Miss Greater Manchester title to raise awareness and highlight 'injustices and systemic racism that occurs in the UK.'
"I want to promote that black lives do matter and that a representative of the black community can become Miss Greater Manchester."
Since taking over last year Cheryl said she wanted to make changes and produce a competition that girls from all walks of life would want to be involved with, and to be a true representation of what Manchester and the surrounding areas are all about.
The finals were due to be held on May 21 but they were called off due to the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown.
So the competition has been running online until Cheryl gets the green light to hold the final event.
Meanwhile the 50 finalists have been kept busy with the introduction of new rounds - Charity, Talent, Eco Warrior and Naked Beauty .
The charity work has seen the young women supporting the Elle for Elle domestic abuse foundation and its campaign Dignity after Distress.
To date Miss Manchester has donated more than 200,000 products to vulnerable women and children.
Elle for Elle founder Lynette Page-Collin said: "Without Miss Manchester and the other heats this year, I’m not sure we would have survived the lockdown.
"We seriously had to consider the option of closing the charity. The finalists have collected over £20,000 worth of items, which enables us to continue our service and help women who have fled domestic abuse and are now living in refuges. We are so proud of the work the girls are doing and the changes they are making to the lives of other women."
Miss Manchester also supports One Woman at a Time, dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged women and girls in parts of Kenya, India and UK.
The winners of the four titles will be travelling to Kenya to see the work that One Woman at a Time does and to see how much the competition has helped.
The girls have also recorded a charity single, due for release this month, called Stronger Together.
For the Eco Warrior round the finalists have all been asked to make an outfit that would be reusable or recyclable, and for the Talent round, finalists have been asked to produce a video showcasing their unique talents.
