Leicestershire resident Carissma Griffiths was crowned ‘Ms Voluptuous UK’ earlier this year – an alternative beauty pageant which celebrates plus-size women.
Here she discusses her shiny new title, plus the amazing goals and mindset which led to her securing the crown.
33-year-old Carissma Griffiths is someone who certainly lives up to her name.
After speaking to her, you can’t help but feel captivated by her warm, positive and engaging energy, her zest for life and strong desire to make the world a better place.
Carissma is interested in politics. She’s a woman who’s passionate about using her voice to ignite social change, and also to inspire female empowerment.
However, the charismatic Hugglescote resident, has many other strings to her bow.
She’s also an entertainer – a talented musician, singer and actress who’s proficient on several instruments, including the the flute, harp and piano.
When you look at her unique skillset, coupled with her inspiring, ‘can-do’ attitude, it’s really no wonder that she was awarded the title of Ms Voluptuous UK back in July – something she is extremely proud of.
“I’m still on cloud nine and I don’t think I’ll be coming off it anytime soon!” she said of her amazing win.
“I’ve taken part in pageants before, but ‘Ms Voluptuous’ is very special and something I’m very passionate about. It’s a wonderful system, which I’m very much behind because it’s all about empowerment, elevation and celebration,” she explained.
“The whole competition is grounded in sisterhood – women supporting one another in our common goal, which is to help make the world a better place.”
Although Carissma says it was great to secure the crown, she admits that whoever won the ‘Ms Voluptuous’ title was “almost irrelevant”, due to the ‘sisterhood’ which developed as a result of the competition.
“Because we had bonded so much throughout the pageantry, we were happy for whoever won,” she said.
“We had each other’s backs, and each other’s empowerment 100 per cent.”
When it comes to female empowerment, Carissma says that this is something she would like to promote over the next 12 months of her ‘reign’.
“I want to inspire women to stand up and be counted as equal – to be able to do the things that our male counterparts can do, and take for granted,” she said
“Unfortunately as a woman, we have to work twice as hard to prove anything. So my reign will be about making sure that we as a sisterhood elevate each other to that position.”
Next April, Carissma will fly to Colorado in the United States to represent the UK in the international stage of the competition.
Although she’s feeling the pressure to do well, she says she is looking forward to the experience.
“To be representing the United Kingdom, is an absolute honour. I want to do the country proud and I want to do the system proud,” she said.
“It’s a lot of pressure, but I’m so excited! I never take anything on unless I can give it 100 per cent, and I definitely will!”
To find out more, visit: www.missvoluptuousuk.co.uk
