An inspirational Plymouth student with Asperger's is competing for the coveted title of becoming Miss England 2019.
23-year-old Aimie Footman is already through to the semi finals which will kick off next week.
Aimie has Asperger Syndrome, suffers with Crohn’s Disease, social anxiety and OCD, but she's still going after her goal of being crowned Miss England 2019.
She was entered in the South West Regional semi-final of Miss England at Bristol’s Grand Hotel on 16 June, but when it was cancelled Aimie was transferred to the wild-card semi-final in Leicester on 15 June. She is travelling up to Leicester on the 13 June to prepare for the semi final.
Entering this type of competition could be seen as a huge challenge for someone with Asperger’s, but for Aimie it is way of showing the world that despite all odds that you can achieve your goals, hope and dreams, and having a disability doesn’t need to stop you.
Aimie said: “I want to break down the stereotype of Asperger’s and autism and show the world that this type of disability does not have to hinder you."
Despite the odds stacked against her Aimie has been determined to live a full and productive life. At the age of 11 Aimie suffered with severe glandular fever and as a result missed nearly two years of school.
When she returned to school she was on the receiving end of some negative comments and experiences and then at the age of 14, she was diagnosed with Asperger’s and Crohn’s disease - which resulted in even more prejudice and a chronic episode of bullying increasing her social anxiety and OCD.
What is Asperger syndrome?
People with Asperger syndrome see, hear and feel the world differently to other people. If you have Asperger syndrome, you have it for life – it is not an illness or disease and cannot be ‘cured’. Often people feel that Asperger syndrome is a fundamental aspect of their identity.
Autism is a spectrum condition. All autistic people share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect them in different ways. Some people with Asperger syndrome also have mental health issues or other conditions, meaning people need different levels and types of support.
People with Asperger syndrome are of average or above average intelligence. They don't have the learning disabilities that many autistic people have, but they may have specific learning difficulties. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.
With the right sort of support, all can be helped to live a more fulfilling life of their own choosing.
Autistic people, including those with Asperger syndrome, have difficulties with interpreting both verbal and non-verbal language like gestures or tone of voice.
People with Asperger syndrome usually have good language skills, but they may still find it hard to understand the expectations of others within conversations, perhaps repeating what the other person has just said (this is called echolalia) or talking at length about their own interests.
People with Asperger syndrome often have difficulty 'reading' other people - recognising or understanding others’ feelings and intentions - and expressing their own emotions. This can make it very hard for them to navigate the social world.
She is now studying for a degree. She has worked hard on combating her social anxiety and is enjoying a social life with friends in Plymouth, which can be very difficult and awkward for those with Asperger’s or autism.
Because of her neurodiversity, Aimie found it challenging to understand why she experienced so much negativity because of her disabilities.
She has always believed in kindness without judgement, so instead of allowing the negative experiences to affect her, she very recently set up a new blog titled Kindness Before Judgement where she can write down what has happened in the hope of helping others, and she has come up with the hashtag #kindnessbeforejudgement to run alongside the blog.
Aimie also spends time horse-riding which she says really helps when the world becomes a sensory struggle for her she finds solace and safety when riding and attends Horse-Resource at Chittlehampton near her home, who also are sponsoring her participation in Miss England.
Now, as the competition steps up a notch, Aimie is seeking further sponsors in order to fundraise for the Miss England and Miss World charity, Beauty with a Purpose that helps disadvantaged children globally. You can read more of her story and sponsor her by clicking here.
