A CHESHIRE beauty queen gearing up for the national final of a global pageant is hoping to use her platform to break the stigma of bipolar disorder
Charlotte Core, from Middlewich, was crowned Miss Planet Cheshire 2026 earlier this year, and will compete to become Miss Planet United Kingdom at the end of the month
The 25-year-old is a fierce advocate of shattering the stigma surrounding mental health, as she herself was diagnosed with bipolar disorder five years ago
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Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition marked by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels
“Beauty queens are often expected to be flawless,” she said. “But real strength is in being honest
“I want people to see that you can live with bipolar disorder and still achieve your goals, represent your community and feel proud of who you are.”
Charlotte was diagnosed with bipolar disorder five years ago (Image: Charlotte Core)
Prior to becoming Miss Planet Cheshire, Charlotte was crowned Miss Petite Global United Kingdom 2025, and placed fifth in the subsequent world championships
At this competition, she won ‘Best Interview’ for talking about her diagnosis
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She said: “I won ‘Best Interview’ for talking about me having bipolar disorder, and what it looks like and what it doesn’t look like, because for me, it can look quite different
“It can vary from men to women as well, it’s like anything, and for me, it really affects my energy levels
“Sometimes I can have loads of ideas and be running around, bouncing off the walls, and sometimes I haven’t got the energy to do things.”
Charlotte has so far used her platform to share her story, creating her own online initiative ‘Mental Health Queens UK’, establishing a community for people going through similar struggles
Charlotte will compete for the Miss Planet United Kingdom title on August 30 (Image: Charlotte Core)
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She added: “The best thing to come out of setting up the page was a girl messaged me on Instagram, and said she was going through a bipolar diagnosis, and did I have any tips for her
“Honestly, that was the win, because it didn’t really matter about the crown on my head at all – but knowing that one girl felt she was comfortable enough to talk to me
“It’s insanely scary when you get a diagnosis like that, but it’s also the start of a path of something new, because then you can get more support and help.”
Charlotte has also authored a book, titled ‘The Bi-Polar Beauty Queen’ which shares her story of rising from a diagnosis to appearing on the international stage
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She actively tries to contribute back to services that support people with their mental health, through raising money for Mind UK
To help raise funds for the mental health charity, Charlotte also sells ‘Worry Bears’, a comforting companion for people when they are feeling anxious or overwhelmed
Charlotte has also penned a book, ‘The Bi-Polar Beauty Queen’ (Image: Charlotte Core)
Charlotte is open with her advice for people who may find themselves in a similar situation of struggling with their mental health
She said: “Take a deep breath, and take each day as it comes, because when you’re in a bad place it can be really hard sometimes to think past 24 hours
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“Write a list of all the positive things in your life, things you are grateful for – even if it’s a list of only two things – cherish them
“Take it slowly, because nothing happens overnight.”
If Charlotte wins Miss Planet United Kingdom on August 30, she will progress to compete for the Miss Planet International 2027 title
