Seanagh McFarlane, a Scottish student who battled Hodgkin's lymphoma, is competing in Miss Great Britain, embodying resilience and inspiring others with her story.
A Scots university student who once believed she had 'no future' after a cancer diagnosis in her teenage years has defied the odds to become a finalist in the UK's largest beauty pageant . Seanagh McFarlane was only 15 and preparing for her National 5 exams when her life took a dramatic turn. She discovered a small lump on her neck, and after experiencing night sweats and increasing pain, confided in her grandfather, a retired GP, who advised her to undergo blood tests.
A doctor swiftly referred her to the Schiehallion children's cancer ward in Glasgow upon discovering alarming blood results. Now 22, Seanagh shared her story with the Record, recounting, 'When I went to Schiehallion, I thought it was just a day off school and I'd be in and out – little did I know I would be spending the next year there. When I received the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma in February 2018, I was utterly distressed. I was just a carefree teenager, and suddenly everything was turned upside down. I honestly thought I was going to die.' During her treatment, Seanagh watched as her friends enjoyed exciting events while she was confined to the hospital. She yearned to return to school and complete her exams to fulfill her dream of becoming a lawyer, but the chemotherapy left her too weak to do anything. She felt hopelessness and a loss of confidence, believing she had no future.Seanagh's hair began to fall out, and she suffered from painful ulcers. Steroids caused her to gain a significant amount of weight. She recalled, 'I noticed people's eyes were constantly drawn to me because I was so young and hairless. I just stood out. I remember turning mirrors around because I didn't want to look at myself. It was incredibly isolating because I found myself reluctant to leave the house. And I only managed to get three of my National 5s, so I felt hopeless, and all of my confidence vanished.' But by September 2018, Seanagh entered remission. This news revitalized her confidence and fueled a determination to return to Our Lady and Saint Patrick's High School in her hometown of Dumbarton. 'Ringing that bell was the best day of my life,' she added. 'I knew I had to go right back to school and get my Highers. I felt constant anxiety, worried that the cancer would return, but I knew I wanted to live my life to the fullest.' Seanagh successfully passed all her Highers and is now pursuing a degree in primary school teaching at the University of Glasgow.Seanagh is now preparing for her first beauty pageant experience as a Miss Great Britain finalist in the Glasgow regional heats in June. Miss GB is one of the longest-running and most prestigious pageants in the UK. Contestants compete at regional levels, and the winner of Miss Glasgow will advance to the Miss GB grand final in October. Last year, Seanagh also founded a non-profit organization called Spirit2Strength, which supports women and girls experiencing hair loss by providing fashionable scarves and advice. She shared, 'I've never competed in any pageant before; it just happened to pop up on my social media to apply, and I thought, why not? After researching what it's about, I realized they're very much in line with my values – women empowerment and community. I also now view what happened to me as a positive, and that's what pageants are all about, so I was over the moon to be chosen as a finalist. I always wanted to dress up and be glam during my treatment, but I never thought it would be me. I lost all my confidence and never thought I'd be able to compete in a pageant, but now I'm confident in my own skin. It took me two-and-a-half years to grow my hair back, so the journey doesn't end after you're in remission. It's a long road, but I want others to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I've spent a lot of time talking to girls with cancer, helping them through, and I'm glad I get to give something back with the charity.
Cancer Survivor Miss Great Britain Hodgkin's Lymphoma Beauty Pageant Resilience Empowerment
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