A BARNSLEY pageant girl has set her sights on winning a national title before competing in Malaysia – a country where her sexuality is illegal.
Swayze Best, from Honeywell, describes herself as a ‘camp and sassy’ woman – and she’s determined to make a name for herself in the industry.
Despite only starting her journey last year, the 21-year-old already has a win under her belt – and she’s set to compete in the Miss Petite Global UK competition in Birmingham later this month.
She said: “I started doing pageants in 2024 when I competed in Miss South Yorkshire.
“Unfortunately I didn’t place but it ignited a bug for me to start competing. I started to work really hard with my training and I took the Miss Empower 2024 title home last year.”
If she takes home the crown next Sunday, she will fly to Malaysia to compete in the international competition – a country where her sexuality is illegal.
She said: “Miss Petite Global UK is a pristine pageant where the UK winner jets off to Malaysia.
“I am hoping to become the first lesbian woman who is also tattooed to take the title in the UK and conquer a country where my sexuality is illegal.
“It’s such a big thing and I want to be able to do it in my own camp and sassy way.
“It’s super crazy to think I’d be able to fly out there – but I would obviously be respectful to the culture. I’ve been working so hard and I’ve done a lot of prep – I’m feeling good about it.”
