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| Do I still want world peace? | Do I still want world peace? |
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| A new Miss Great Britain was crowned this week, but what do former beauty queens do once they've healed humanity of all its ills? | A new Miss Great Britain was crowned this week, but what do former beauty queens do once they've healed humanity of all its ills? |
| Taxi drivers and children. They still ask for Brooke Johnston's autograph when they find out who she was. But during her reign as Miss UK Universe 2005 she was mobbed by hundreds of fans in the Phillipines and met the likes of Bill Clinton. | Taxi drivers and children. They still ask for Brooke Johnston's autograph when they find out who she was. But during her reign as Miss UK Universe 2005 she was mobbed by hundreds of fans in the Phillipines and met the likes of Bill Clinton. |
| While being a beauty queen has lost much of its cache in the UK - how many knew about this week's Miss GB? - it's a huge deal elsewhere. A reported audience of one billion viewers, from approximately 170 countries, watched Brooke battle it out for Queen and country four years ago in the Miss Universe beauty pageant. | While being a beauty queen has lost much of its cache in the UK - how many knew about this week's Miss GB? - it's a huge deal elsewhere. A reported audience of one billion viewers, from approximately 170 countries, watched Brooke battle it out for Queen and country four years ago in the Miss Universe beauty pageant. |
| Beauty contests are a bit tongue in cheek over here, they're on a par with Eurovision Daniella Luan - Miss England 2002 | Beauty contests are a bit tongue in cheek over here, they're on a par with Eurovision Daniella Luan - Miss England 2002 |
| She didn't win but held the Miss UK Universe title for a year, during which time she travelled the globe, met royalty, world leaders and partied with the famous. On the flip side she did have to open a couple of local supermarkets, but that "wasn't so bad". | She didn't win but held the Miss UK Universe title for a year, during which time she travelled the globe, met royalty, world leaders and partied with the famous. On the flip side she did have to open a couple of local supermarkets, but that "wasn't so bad". |
| But what does a beauty queen do after she's placed that diamond tiara on the coiffured head of the next winner and hung up her sash? | But what does a beauty queen do after she's placed that diamond tiara on the coiffured head of the next winner and hung up her sash? |
| "The first few months after I finished my year in the role was a difficult time for me, it was my lowest point," says Ms Johnston. | "The first few months after I finished my year in the role was a difficult time for me, it was my lowest point," says Ms Johnston. |
| "I was at a loss about what to do next. But the role gets you an immediate profile for not doing very much at all and I knew I should make the most of that." | "I was at a loss about what to do next. But the role gets you an immediate profile for not doing very much at all and I knew I should make the most of that." |
| She admits her profile isn't necessarily high in this country, where such pageants - which include Miss England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Miss GB - are no longer broadcast on mainstream television and often viewed as a bit outdated. | She admits her profile isn't necessarily high in this country, where such pageants - which include Miss England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Miss GB - are no longer broadcast on mainstream television and often viewed as a bit outdated. |
| It isn't necessarily positive either, with one of the highest profile recent winners being Danielle Lloyd - best known for the Celebrity Big Brother race row and dating footballers. | It isn't necessarily positive either, with one of the highest profile recent winners being Danielle Lloyd - best known for the Celebrity Big Brother race row and dating footballers. |
| Rioting | Rioting |
| But while Ms Johnston says beauty queens can be seen as a bit "tacky" here, outside of the UK having a title still has currency. She is happy to be known as a former Miss UK Universe. | But while Ms Johnston says beauty queens can be seen as a bit "tacky" here, outside of the UK having a title still has currency. She is happy to be known as a former Miss UK Universe. |
| "It's not an advantage over here but in other countries, like India, the big beauty contests are still massive, you're a celebrity," she says. | "It's not an advantage over here but in other countries, like India, the big beauty contests are still massive, you're a celebrity," she says. |
| "In the US it also opens doors socially and you get to network with people you wouldn't in everyday life and then you make that work for you." | "In the US it also opens doors socially and you get to network with people you wouldn't in everyday life and then you make that work for you." |
| THE UK PAGEANTS There are several national beauty pageant titles for the UKMiss UK Universe - goes on to Miss UniverseMiss England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales - all go on to Miss WorldMiss Great Britain | THE UK PAGEANTS There are several national beauty pageant titles for the UKMiss UK Universe - goes on to Miss UniverseMiss England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales - all go on to Miss WorldMiss Great Britain |
| And she's certainly done that. She recently landed a leading role in a new Bollywood film, her profile as a former beauty queen being a huge benefit. | And she's certainly done that. She recently landed a leading role in a new Bollywood film, her profile as a former beauty queen being a huge benefit. |
| She also spent the last year covering the US Presidential elections for various news organisations, having gained a masters in journalism during the year she was Miss UK Universe. Again she says her beauty queen profile was a benefit in the political circles of Washington. | She also spent the last year covering the US Presidential elections for various news organisations, having gained a masters in journalism during the year she was Miss UK Universe. Again she says her beauty queen profile was a benefit in the political circles of Washington. |
| But having a high profile doesn't always work out well. Daniella Luan, now a single mother of two, found herself embroiled in controversy when she was crowned Miss England 2002 and went to represent the country in Miss World. | But having a high profile doesn't always work out well. Daniella Luan, now a single mother of two, found herself embroiled in controversy when she was crowned Miss England 2002 and went to represent the country in Miss World. |
| The competition was held in Nigeria, just as a local woman was due to be stoned to death for adultery. A few contestants boycotted the event, but on the advice of the organisers she went. | The competition was held in Nigeria, just as a local woman was due to be stoned to death for adultery. A few contestants boycotted the event, but on the advice of the organisers she went. |
| Media frenzy | Media frenzy |
| When she arrived rioting erupted between Christians and Muslims. More than 200 people were killed and the pageant was forced to decamp to London. | When she arrived rioting erupted between Christians and Muslims. More than 200 people were killed and the pageant was forced to decamp to London. |
| "It was a nightmare," she says. " I found myself at the centre of this political storm and all over the newspapers. I had journalists outside my home in the middle of the night. There was a frenzy of media attention. | "It was a nightmare," she says. " I found myself at the centre of this political storm and all over the newspapers. I had journalists outside my home in the middle of the night. There was a frenzy of media attention. |
| "I didn't know how to deal with it and was given little advice, I just wanted the whole thing over and done with. After the Miss World contest I was very low and didn't want to do much during my year as Miss England. It was a relief to hand over the crown to someone else." | "I didn't know how to deal with it and was given little advice, I just wanted the whole thing over and done with. After the Miss World contest I was very low and didn't want to do much during my year as Miss England. It was a relief to hand over the crown to someone else." |
| Miss Universe was 'fun but hard work' | Miss Universe was 'fun but hard work' |
| She went on to complete her degree, which she had put on hold for a year. She also had two children, who she now looks after full-time as well as doing some modelling work. She has some regrets that she didn't make more of her time as Miss England, but the whole Miss World experience scarred her. | |
| "Beauty contests are a bit tongue in cheek over here, they're on a par with Eurovision. But in a lot of other countries they're huge and having a title can open doors. The girls from places where Miss World is still massive were equivalent to film stars in their own countries. I had little preparation for the role and was just a normal girl from Oxford." | "Beauty contests are a bit tongue in cheek over here, they're on a par with Eurovision. But in a lot of other countries they're huge and having a title can open doors. The girls from places where Miss World is still massive were equivalent to film stars in their own countries. I had little preparation for the role and was just a normal girl from Oxford." |
| But what about the all-important charity work? We know beauty queens are partial to working with children and campaigning for world peace, but does that all stop when the crown goes back? | But what about the all-important charity work? We know beauty queens are partial to working with children and campaigning for world peace, but does that all stop when the crown goes back? |
| "I still do charity work as a former Miss UK, it still gets publicity," says Ms Johnston, who campaigns on behalf of animal rights charity Peta. | "I still do charity work as a former Miss UK, it still gets publicity," says Ms Johnston, who campaigns on behalf of animal rights charity Peta. |
| And it still gets her recognised occasionally, but not usually on home turf. The last time she was spotted was on holiday in Ibiza last summer and before that in Toronto, Canada. | And it still gets her recognised occasionally, but not usually on home turf. The last time she was spotted was on holiday in Ibiza last summer and before that in Toronto, Canada. |
| Extreme pressure | Extreme pressure |
| So would she enter Miss Universe now? Probably not. While it's a huge event globally, she thinks it's outdated. She may have a point. No contestants in Miss Universe are allowed to have been married or pregnant and the titleholder still has to remain single throughout her reign. | So would she enter Miss Universe now? Probably not. While it's a huge event globally, she thinks it's outdated. She may have a point. No contestants in Miss Universe are allowed to have been married or pregnant and the titleholder still has to remain single throughout her reign. |
| She and Ms Luan also say there is a darker side to all the Hollywood smiles. The pressure on some contestants can be immense. | She and Ms Luan also say there is a darker side to all the Hollywood smiles. The pressure on some contestants can be immense. |
| "It might be a bit of a laugh over here but for some countries it is a massive deal," says Ms Johnston. Some girls take "extreme measures to increase their chances of winning and cosmetic surgery is a normal part of the prize for winning their national title. | "It might be a bit of a laugh over here but for some countries it is a massive deal," says Ms Johnston. Some girls take "extreme measures to increase their chances of winning and cosmetic surgery is a normal part of the prize for winning their national title. |
| "But I am a strong person and I had an amazing time. I will always be happy to be a former Miss UK." | "But I am a strong person and I had an amazing time. I will always be happy to be a former Miss UK." |
| Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |