Yahoo News Woman's 'wonderful' plan after getting 'scary' letter through door
A woman has issued an update after receiving a ‘scary’ letter.
Brittany Feeney, 25, from Maghull, is a beauty pageant model and won the title of Miss Liverpool last year. She was inspired to enter this field by her mum Julieann, who was crowned Miss New Brighton in 1983.
She told the ECHO: “My mum really inspired me because she drew on her positive experience and entered me into my first pageant 10 years ago which was Miss Junior Teen Great Britain, and I must say I fell in love with pageantry straight away. I love what it's done for me and how it encourages contestants.
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“They put their best and most confident self forward, not only on stage and in competition, but in life as well, and I really think it helps set you up for that.”
However, the last few years have been difficult at times for Brittany’s family. Her dad Michael died unexpectedly from a heart attack four years ago, caused by dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
The disease causes the walls of the heart to stretch and weaken. It has a 70-80% mortality rate within eight years and can be hereditary. Soon after her dad's death, Brittany’s brother Alex experienced heart issues too.
Then, while Brittany was training for the 2023 final of Miss Great Britain in the gym, she noticed she was experiencing irregular heartbeats. After some tests, the doctor warned Brittany it could be a sign of DCM.
Nevertheless, she was confident of receiving the all-clear and went on to win the top prize. Her celebrations were cut short when she returned home to find a letter on her doormat. The letter revealed that Brittany's ECG results had been abnormal, and she had been referred to a cardiologist for further investigation.
She told the ECHO at the time: “To come away from the finals knowing that I'd won the beach body award…I left the final elated and so proud to have represented my city and to do something for my dad. When I came home and found the letter, it was a real shock.”
It has now been confirmed that Brittany has DCM, with doctors having to regularly monitor how she is doing. She said: “As for now, they're just keeping a really close eye on me, but the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital has just been amazing.
“The staff and just how they treat you is just absolutely wonderful. They really do take care of you and really see to your needs. I also went for an echocardiogram quite recently and I was one of the first to have patients to have been on their new scanner.”
It is hoped that the new scanner will be able to monitor the effects of DCM more closely and improve the treatment of those living with it.
Brittany says she is determined to overcome this setback. She said: “It was a real shock but the one thing this condition has taught me is that I refuse to let this condition or any other negative influence define me. And so I'm going to keep going for the things I want to achieve in life and I won't allow this to hold me back.
“That's something I want to also push as well to encourage more people out there, especially young girls - to really go for what they want in life and to go for their dreams and not let anything hold them back.
“It was a really big scare, but pageantry really gave me those transferable skills, such as resilience and determination. Being a professional performer myself, I've also adopted those skills, so those are what really helped me to keep going.”
This has been backed up by her work since. She now also has the title of Miss Sefton International and is preparing to compete in Miss International United Kingdom next weekend on May 18. Winning this title would enable her to fly to Japan to represent the UK at the Miss International final and have the opportunity to travel to India for vital charity work.
She said: “I am not letting this condition hold me back and why I am hopefully going to become your next Miss International of the United Kingdom.
“I can just imagine it'd be such a wonderful experience, and I can't believe that. But Miss International United Kingdom has also partnered up with a charity called A Sisterhood, which is such an amazing charity.
“They really help to empower, support and protect women worldwide, such as charities like Stop Acid Attacks.”
Brittany has also supported local causes, such as Rescue Me Animal Sanctuary, Lydiate Community Care Farm and Rowan Hospital. She runs the KIID campaign too. Standing for Kindness and Inclusion In Dance, it encourages a welcoming and healthy environment for children pursuing dancing as a career. She applies this in her work as a dance teacher for underprivileged children.
Brittany admits her surprise at the charitable and travel opportunities she has gained through beauty pageants. She said: “Back when my mum competed, there weren't really as many prizes as that.
“There were more cash prizes, extravagant, luxurious gifts. Whereas now, they really push women to travel and explore and to take in new cultures, and to also come away with something valuable from each trip that they take.”
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