A FEMALE forklift driver has proved that working in a male-dominated industry does not mean her beauty has to be compromised.

But she's taken it to extreme lengths and is to compete as a finalist in the Ms. World contest in Florida next August.

It's been quite a journey for Emma Jay-Webb, 41, from Bristol, England, who will be competing as Ms. Great Britain.

A long-time forklift driver, she never considered entering the world of beauty pageantry, until her marriage broke down in 2016.

Her self-confidence was at rock bottom and, in an attempt to salvage some self-esteem, she did a Google search.

It was there she discovered a hitherto unknown world to her: the land of beauty contests, and she entered her first in 2018.

"I saw an ad for Miss British Beauty Curve," she said, "and fell in love with the other women on stage who looked like me."

It was quite a turn of events, and she has since steamed her way through several beauty contests.

But daily life is unchanged for her and she still pitches up for work every day: "I'm still driving my forklift truck and I love it," she said.

"Women can work in construction, a male-dominated industry, and still be beautiful and feminine," she insisted.

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Plus-size Emma won the Ms. United Kingdom World International 2023 Crown and reached the final 10 for Miss GB in 2022 in the 31-44 category.

This plucky Englishwoman wants to use her international platform in the Ms. World contest to campaign against homophobia.

Emma is a groundbreaker, being the first ever lesbian Ms. Great Britain finalist to enter the Ms. World contest.

The finalist makes her way to Florida in August, where the Ms. World competition takes place, and Emma wants the opportunity to have her say on laws passed there: 'Don’t say gay’, which prohibits any LGBTQ+ conversation in schools.

This is anathema to Emma, and she wants to use her gay status to challenge such attitudes.

The contrast between the two elements of her life is stark.

By day she works in the most male of environments, the construction industry, by night she is a glamor puss.

Her success still feels unreal to her: "I'm still very much buzzing but nervous,” she admitted.

She is aware that some may consider the beauty pageant dated and outmoded, but not Emma.

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"People need to be open-minded to pageantry it's not what it used to be, feminism has taken over, it's all about sisterhood and being in an army of positive women," she said as she prepared for her Florida appearance later in the year.

A groundswell of support will be following in her wake.

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