AFTER two years of uncertainty local business owner Holly Pirrie is planning for a busy year ahead for Pageant Girl and The Dress Studio, both heavily impacted by Covid-19 – although still able to raise over £50,000 for charity!
Like so many, the business based in Culcheth, Warrington, simply had to stop trading for much of the pandemic.
Director, Holly said: “Our business relies solely on people being brought together. Our pageants are live events, they are about fun, making new friends and memories – with an audience… it’s like one big party. However, there was no way these could be held in 2020 or in the first half of 2021. People kept suggesting that I hold virtual ones but for me, this would not have been close to the same. I spoke to the pageant finalists and they agreed, they all wanted that special moment to be on stage and to physically be together – and to hug!”
Holly and her team kept waiting and finally from July 2021, they were able to hold their events, including Miss Teen Great Britain.
“It has been a busy six months, it went from 0-100 overnight. I was continuously apprehensive that we may not be able to hold them but we did – and it was worth the wait.”
Holly, who also runs the prom dress superstore, The Dress Studio at Culcheth, Warrington. Again, business completely stopped with proms being postponed or cancelled in 2020.
“My friends would say, you could just sell the dresses online…. But our issue was that no-one needed the dresses because we could barely leave the house. I did go through all the different worries and concerns for the business but it was fantastic when we could re-open in 2021, prom was back on and everyone was ready to party.”
The Dress Studio is now preparing for Prom 2022. They have hundreds of dresses instore and they know prom 2022 is going to be a memorable event for all! The store has over 30 changing rooms and so, there is plenty of space.
“After the two years that we have had, the students deserve the best prom and party. I am loving seeing all of their happy faces come into the store and I know 2022 will be special for them,” added Holly.
The company has raised over £550,000 for their chosen charities, including The Christie and Together for Short Lives. Their fundraising continued throughout the pandemic, raising over £50,000 – they plan to continue this into 2022.
For anyone looking to enter a pageant, you can visit www.pageantgirl.co.uk all events are held in the Northwest and you can be aged 11 upwards – with no upper age limit!
“The pageants are the perfect opportunity if you are wanting to try something new, whether you want to build your confidence or make new friends, it’s an incredibly fun experience,” added Holly, herself a former Miss England finalist and previous holder of various Pagent crowns.
