Our beauty with many goals
Strutting across a stage in a bikini holds no fear for Sarah Archer.
The 17-year-old is proud of her body and not afraid to have her every move scrutinised by a panel of judges.
She's confident that there's so much more to her than just a pretty face and a perfect size eight figure.
And it's her intelligence, personality and self-confidence that Sarah's banking on to take her far in life – not her beauty.
That's not to say she doesn't recognise that she's a beautiful girl, and certainly the judges of Miss Portsmouth 2008 agreed, when they crowned her to represent the city.
Sarah won her title earlier this month after sending in her portfolio, winning an internet vote to be shortlisted from 21 girls to the final 10, and impressing the judges enough to walk away with the crown.
With no modelling experience she didn't think she stood a chance and initially applied only because she was looking for talent shows she could take part in.
'I was so happy and I was very surprised,' she says. 'When they told me I was good enough to make it to the final 10 I was so pleased, so to win it was amazing.'
She adds: 'Now I'm Miss Portsmouth people will listen to me more. I wouldn't mind if I didn't win Miss England because at least I can help improve things as Miss Portsmouth.'
For the next month she will be kept busy organising a charity event and raising her profile before she hits the stage in London for the Miss England contest on July 18.
She will be one of 50 girls hoping to sashay away with the main prize – the chance to represent England in the ultra-glamorous Miss World competition.
'I'm nervous and scared. It would be great for someone from Portsmouth to win,' she says. 'That would be unbelievable. It would just be great to get to the final 20.'
She adds: 'I'm very positive about my personality and about my body. It all depends on what they are looking for.
'I'm not saying there aren't people better than me but it's up to the judges to ask who can be the best Miss England, who can give more than I can give.'
Sarah believes the Miss England contest has changed over the years and is no longer just about picking the prettiest girl to represent the country.
She explains: 'My beauty can be used as a benefit to humanity rather than just as something to look at.
'This generation is very hard-working. Before, it used to be a competition about which is the prettiest girl. Now it is about who is the cleverest girl, who can offer more, and who can stand up for girls.'
She adds: 'It boosts people's confidence. They don't necessarily have to be the winner – just to have the confidence to enter the pageant is very good. It shows how women are now.
'I'm beautiful and I'll do whatever I want and there's lots of charity work to it and lots of public speaking that means I can talk to other people. I can be the positive role model for others.'
Sarah's heritage is mixed and she revels in the different cultures that influence her life.
Her family comes from Iraq but her mother's grandfather was English and Sarah was born and raised here.
'I speak fluent Arabic, eat Arabian food and follow our ways but I'm also English and eat English food and follow English traditions and music,' she says.
'I've been here so long that we've lost track of that home in Iraq. We still have got family there but it's not a place that people want to be in at the moment.'
She adds: 'I've never had chance to go to Iraq. Most people respect me and my traditions of where I come from.'
Sarah's father, Thamir Alsaidi, is a retired GP and used to practise in Bedhampton. Sarah and her mother, Jessie Archer, spent most of their time in London but returned to Portsmouth 18 months ago when Thamir retired.
The family, including six-year-old brother Ahmed, now live in Eastney and Sarah says she loves being near the sea.
Her real dream in life is to become a doctor and her determination to get there is unwavering.
She's currently studying forensic science, maths and English at Portsmouth College and isn't prepared to skip classes to attend photo shoots or public appearances.
'I don't mind studying my whole life to get there,' she says. 'It's not about the time you spend, it's about achieving my goal. Some people think I'll give up but that's a goal I don't want to give up.'
She explains: 'Whether or not I win Miss England, I'm still going to achieve this goal. It's just a feeling I can't explain. I've learnt a bit of first aid from my dad and the other day my friend fainted and I was able to help her.
'To help someone I love is just amazing.'
Sarah adds: 'My mum and my father are my role models. They are both so hard-working and determined. Things like this make them what they are. They are really kind and generous. They are sincere people.
'Angelina Jolie is also a role model for me. I love the way she is adopting and hopefully, if God gives me good work, I would love to do that.'Miss Portsmouth on ...
Looking after herself:
'I think a woman should always look after her beauty. I don't think a woman should give in. It doesn't matter what size she is, so long as she is happy with it and feeling good about herself.
'It's important for me not to change too much of my appearance. I don't want to be something that I'm not. I like to be thin and slender but I don't want to be too thin. I wouldn't want to be a size zero because nothing is worth wrecking your health for.'
Her passion for belly-dancing:
'I get it from my mum I guess. My mother is a really good belly-dancer as well. I started watching her and then I went to a school for a month to learn belly-dancing. I've got a passion for music and as soon as a beat starts playing I can't help but dance. It keeps me in shape. It's just something very fun to do.'
Living in Portsmouth:
'It's calm, it's got the sea and it's beautiful. People are very fortunate to live here. It's amazing how I can go to Port Solent and have a coffee and look at the boats. Or go to Gunwharf Quays on a hot day and breathe in the sea.
'It's simple things like that. You can't do things like that in London.'
Being a youth MP for Westminster:
'Each person had to write a manifesto of what they wanted to do and then there was a period of voting. As a youth MP I represented youths in Westminster about what they wanted to keep the same and what they wanted to change. It was nice being in a position where I could speak my mind and defend what was right for others.'
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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