Aged 54:Grandmother inspired to become bikini beauty pageant queen

A glamorous grandmother is competing in the final of a beauty pageant against women decades younger than her.
Trendy Amanda Booth, 54, vowed to live life to the full after her son Stuart, 30, was killed in a car accident five years ago.
But it took her until this year to finally fulfil her modelling dreams by entering a beauty pageant and next month will compete in the Ms Galaxy competition.
Retail manager Amanda, from Severn Beach, South Gloucestershire, said: "When Stuart died I was just devastated.
"I lost my job and nearly lost my home. Things were awful, but I had to somehow start to rebuild my life.
"I just had to do something for myself. His accident changed my perception of life and after a while it has made me more positive.
"I feel a lot younger than I am and lots of people say I look a lot younger, so hopefully it won't make a difference."

 

Before: Amanda Booth, aged 38, before she became a glamorous gran

 

Nerves: Amanda said she worried when she heard there was a bikini round in the competition

"When I was told there was a bikini round , I did think 'oh my god wearing a bikini on stage at my age', but it is very easy to sit at home and then suddenly realise you have done nothing with your life," she added.
She is the oldest competitor and is likely to be more than 20 years older than her fellow finalists in the over-30s section.

 

Oldest competitor: Amanda is 20 years older than her fellow Ms Galaxy 2016 finalists

But that hasn't stopped the size eight grandmother-of-five from entering the contest - which will see her model a bikini in front of hundreds of strangers.
She said: "It might put my out of my comfort zone, but these are the kind of things that I have to force myself to do."

 

Youthful: The glamorous grandmother says she looks young for her age

"I think Stuart would say 'fair play mum'," she continued. "He is my motivation for doing this and I am sure that he would be proud of me having the courage to try something new.
"The last thing he would want is me sitting at home upset. You have to make the most of the time you have."

Tragic Stuart, a father-of-three, died in December 2008 after he fell from a taxi in Bristol, and spent eight days fighting for his life.

 

Model dream: Amanda, pictured here aged 43, has long wanted to try modelling

Devastated Amanda, who has another daughter, always wanted to try modelling but only plucked up the courage to have professional photos taken in February.
She sent them to the organisers of Ms Galaxy and was astonished when she got through to the final, which takes place in Preston on February 4.

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Making waves: Amanda enjoying a paddle when she was 17

Amanda, from Severn Beach near Bristol, will be representing Wiltshire in the competition as she originates from Pewsey.
"I thought it was a joke and I am just so pleased to get to the final," said Amanda, who has a 26.5 inch waist and goes to the gym three times a week."

 

Radiant: Amanda, pictured here aged 25, is looking forward to her next contest

"I'm quite a determined person and when I get something in my head I try my hardest to achieve it," she continued.
"I will be nervous getting up in a bikini next to younger women, but I'm going to give it my best shot."

The Galaxy pageants run categories in the UK including Mrs, Ms, Miss, Miss Teen, & Junior Miss Galaxy open to all females, aged 12 and above.

 

No regrets: The grandmother of five says she thinks her son would think 'good on her' for entering the competition

This year will be the first time there has been a Ms Galaxy category in the competition for unmarried women aged over 30.