A HEXHAM woman said it is an 'honour' to be crowned this year's Miss Northumberland.

Kirsty Wright, who was born in Hexham, competed in the UK's oldest beauty pageant, Miss Great Britain, to take the regional title of Miss Northumberland GB 2024.

She won the title of Miss North East GB - Sunderland 2023 last year.

The 24-year-old said: "It is an honour to represent where I am actually from, was born, and have a strong connection with. I will go on to represent the county at Miss Great Britain later this year.

Hexham Courant: Kirsty Wright, this year's Miss NorthumberlandKirsty Wright, this year's Miss Northumberland (Image: Supplied)

"As someone who has had various obstacles to overcome over the years, I feel I have achieved something great. Being bullied throughout my school, college and university life, discriminated against in a previous workplace, and verbally abused, led to me suffering from mental health illness."

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She has overcome these hurdles with mental health support and said she is "on the road to recovery".

Hexham Courant: Kirsty WrightKirsty Wright (Image: Supplied)

"Through this time, I didn’t feel very supported, I didn’t feel like I had a network of people I could turn to. I was a female in very male-dominant areas.

"I knew that I always wanted to help others who suffered from mental health illness like myself, so to do this I have been making care packages for those in need for many years now. These get donated to various charities with the most recent collection being donated to the local charity, Oasis Community Housing.

"As a strong female empowerment advocate, on International Women’s Day 2023, I set up the network Girl Power to help give women the skills they need through personal development and empowerment coaching, to get through any of life’s hurdles."

Kirsty's WhatsApp group has women from all over the UK who support each other and have varied backgrounds. "I have managed to create something that I wish I had when I needed it most," she said.

"This year for International Women’s Day, I was also accepted to be a United Nations CSW68 Delegate to do my bit for women’s equity and safe spaces through the voluntary role. This year’s theme is Inspire Inclusion."