Rachel is much more than just a pretty face

Rachel Leigh Loftus is just a regular teenager from Glasgow but she is determined to take the world of pageants by storm.
Rachel began her pageant journey at the tender age of 12 and has three titles under her belt so far.Rachel began her pageant journey at the tender age of 12 and has three titles under her belt so far.
Rachel began her pageant journey at the tender age of 12 and has three titles under her belt so far.

Despite hailing from one of the most deprived areas in the city and coming from a low income, one parent family, 16-year-old Rachel is determined to show the world that it takes more than a pretty face to win those crowns!

Rachel said: ‘I’ve been on the receiving end of so many negative comments from people who believe all pageant girls do is walk onstage an smile!

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“That’s simply not true. In the last four years I’ve raised over £4000 for various charities and travelled thousands of miles to promote my pageant titles.

“I’ve gained so much confidence just from being involved in pageantry.”

Rachel began her pageant journey at age 12 and has since held the following titles: Junior Face of the Globe Scotland 2014; Teen Face of the Globe Scotland 2016; and Teen Scotland Supreme 2017.

Rachel currently holds the title of Miss Teen Glasgow City and will compete to be crowned Miss Teen Great Britain in Blackpool this October.

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Rachel will have an offstage interview which accounts for 50 per cent of her total score. She will then take to the stage where she will be judged in her fashion and evening wear.

A huge part of pageantry is charity work. Rachel is currently fundraising for Together for Short Lives, a charity that supports families of children affected by life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses.

In the last four years Rachel has also fundraised for Abbie’s Army, The Brightest Star and Glasgow Children’s Holiday Scheme.

Rachel continued: “Raising funds and awareness for these wonderful charities has really made me think about how lucky I am. I’m very proud to be out there spreading these messages”

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The run up to any pageant is a busy time for contestants. Rachel has been travelling up and down the UK judging, hosting and coaching at other pageant systems. Rachel has even been selected as a brand spokesmodel for leading shoe designer Marc Defang and has a pair of his shoes named after her.

Despite being very busy with pageant activities, Rachel has been dancing, acting, singing and modelling for 11 years and has just received an unconditional offer to begin HND Musical Theatre at the prestigious Edinburgh College of Music and Sound Production. Rachel has danced at Pulse Dance Studio since the age of five and has been an assistant teacher there for five years.

Rachel said: “The most important thing I’ve learned from pageantry is the importance of the image you project. I have a lot of young girls I coach and they look up to me.

“I have a responsibility to be a good role model for them. I do this by keeping my lifestyle age-appropriate and my social media family friendly.”