UK Cypriot Christina Loizou, from Shoreham, was crowned Miss Brighton 2019 during a live glittering final which took place on Sunday 8th September at the Mercure Hotel, Brighton.

Christina beat 11 other women for the title at what was her third attempt to win the crown.

The 23-year-old solicitor’s receptionist was the judges’ favourite on the night of the contest, impressing in the black dress, bikini, evening wear and charity aspects of the contest.

After picking up the crown Christina, who went to Cardinal Newman school in Hove, said: “It’s going to be great to represent the city as Miss Brighton. I’m so proud to be from here, I’ve lived here my whole life, this is a dream come true.”

Christina told Parikiaki, “It’s a night I will remember for the rest of my life! So many people told me to walk away and try something different but I knew what my dream was. Something my director Keely told me once was you never know who you will inspire, and if I gave up or wasn’t myself on that stage, I would be showing them that it’s ok to not stand up and show who you are and what you love doing. After that, I felt I would be letting down those who felt they couldn’t do it and so I went out there to show them that they can.”

Christina thanked her directors Keely and Julie for “not giving up and believing in me,” mum Liz “for being my rock from the beginning”, dad Neo and step mum Athena for “coming and watching each year,” auntie Stella for “pushing me to go for that casting in 2016”, and finally her partner Jonathan for “always being there at every pageant and supporting me every day of my life.”

Christina now wants to use her role to empower people against bullying: “Bullying can happen to anyone at any age…The reason I was doing Miss Brighton is for the girls who don’t have the confidence to do it themselves to show they can. I just want to make a difference and this title will give me that opportunity.”

Christina has started an anti-bullying Facebook page, Stand Together Against Bullying, where people can go to find numbers for helplines and would like to start her own charity.

This year’s Miss Brighton contestants were tasked with raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society. At the ceremony Christina also won the title of Miss Charity, having raised more than £1,000 for it over the course of the competition.

Christina will now represent Brighton in the National Final of Miss Great Britain in February 2020 as part of the organisation’s 75th anniversary celebrations.

Parikiaki would like to congratulate Christina on her achievement. Well done!