Sangeetha Menon was crowned at a national pageant this year, marking her as the first South Asian woman over 40 to achieve this honor. She moved to Orpington from Madras and previously worked in IT before her role at Dogs Trust. After experiencing a near-fatal ectopic pregnancy in 2018, Sangeetha faced challenges with her mental and physical health, which led to significant weight gain. Inspired by her daughter, she began cycling, eventually losing three stones. Her daughter's struggles with bullying motivated Sangeetha to enter pageantry, aiming to promote beauty in all shapes and sizes.
"I was so happy to win, but at the same time it was shocking to find out I was the first South Asian woman to win at a national pageant," Sangeetha explained.
"After the loss of my baby, eating became a comfort for me at that point... I could never look at myself in the mirror, I actually used my daughter to hide myself."
"But it was her eight-year-old daughter who sparked a catalyst for change for Sangeetha to lose weight and work on her health through daily cycling."
"I began cycling, and two and a half years down the line I had lost three stones of weight, and cycling just became a passion for me."
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