A mum of two from the Morecambe Bay area has been named a finalist in the Ms Great Britain Classic beauty contest for women aged 45 and over.
Victoria Dodd said she was inspired to enter after hearing about the competition on TV while struggling with her health and following the death of her father.
Vicki, 53, said entering the contest has led to "a braver, confident, empowered and excited version of myself".
She will line up alongside other women from around Great Britain in the grand final at Athena Leicester on October 16.
The contest will be held on the same day as the famous Miss Great Britain competition which was for years held in Morecambe at the town's old Super Swimming Stadium.
Vicki has lived in and around the Morecambe and South Lakes area since she was 17 and worked for Lancaster and Morecambe Newspapers in the 1990s.
She now lives in Kirkby Lonsdale and is a member of Morecambe Golf Club.
Her more recent work has been investing and working with nurses who treat women going through menopause.
"I went to My Meno as I was struggling to get the right support from my GP," she said.
"After a couple of years of being told you’re too young to be going through perimenopause and being offered anti depressants and being told 'it’s just your body getting old' and 'take stronger painkillers' I felt like a burden and the HRT being prescribed didn’t seem to be clearing my brain fog and other symptoms.
"It's been a long journey in and out of hospital, undergoing procedures and getting my hormones back to the level they should be.
Victoria during a photo shoot for Ms Great Britain Classic in Majorca
"Whilst struggling with my health and losing my father last year I saw the winners of Miss Great Britain on a morning TV show and they talked about Miss GB (18-30), Ms GB (31-44) and Ms GB Classic (45+).
"I had no idea that existed…an empowering platform for mature women.
"I thought, that’s a bit of me but I’m only 5’2”, married with kids….what have I got to offer?
"I called my daughter and she said: 'Go for it Mum; it’ll give you your confidence back!'
"Entering Ms Great Britain Classic has given me not just my life back but a braver, confident, empowered and excited version of myself.
"I feel wonderful!"
Vicki was recently invited by Ms Great Britain Classic to a photo shoot in Majorca, saying: "I'd never done anything like this before.
"They gave me my own make-up artist and hairdresser, I felt fabulous, like a Hollywood film star!"
Vicki is raising money for Miss GB charities Cancer Research and A-Sisterhood by holding events at her home and has raised more than £2500 so far.
On Saturday July 25 she is involved with the Golf Fest event at Morecambe Golf Club.
Vicki is selling admission tickets for the event, which includes live music from local acts Ashleigh Wood, Stuart Michaels, Tom Woods and The Deadbeats from 1pm-9pm.
She has asked local companies to donate raffle prizes to raise funds for Cancer Research and ASisterhood), which include a short break in a penthouse apartment in Windermere Marina Village, a Gaming PC from XUM, Airport Transfer from Mike Waring, Lads and Dads barber experience with Colin Brown, aesthetic consultation and treatment with Laura Sedgwick and Thrive week long membership from Natalie at Thrive Gym Heysham Port.
For tickets, contact her through her social media v_dodd (Instagram) or Facebook (Victoria Dodd).
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