Clare Hopwood explains how farming, an accounting apprenticeship and winning Miss GB Manchester taught her that she never had to choose.
The night I was crowned Miss GB Manchester I don’t think I slept much. I lay awake replaying every moment: the announcement, the applause, hearing my name called.
The next morning I was back outside in my wellies, feeding the animals and clearing the farmyard.
Standing on a stage in an evening gown one day and walking through a muddy farmyard the next might seem like two completely different lives. To me, they are simply two parts of the same story.
I grew up in Heyrod, on the edge of Tameside, where farming isn’t just a job – it’s a way of life.
Hard work isn’t something you talk about; it’s something you do. Today, alongside the farm, I’m working in an accountancy practice, completing an accounting apprenticeship with Premier Training, and preparing for the Miss Great Britain national final in Leicester.
Being true to my roots
I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming an accountant. Finance wasn’t part of my world. Farming was. But I knew I wanted a career in accounting.
I planned to go to college to study it, but I didn’t get the grades I needed. At the time it felt like the door had closed before I’d even had the chance to begin.
Looking back, that moment didn’t stop me. It redirected me.
Instead, I found an accounting apprenticeship with Premier Training. It gave me something I didn’t expect: the chance to earn, gain real experience, and build my career from day one.
If you truly want something there is another way to get there. An apprenticeship became my opportunity, not a backup plan.
Journey to the crown
Miss GB Manchester was my third competition.
I entered previously and finished fifth. I could have stopped there, but I wasn’t finished. I then competed at Miss Cheshire before returning to Miss GB Manchester one final time.
This time everything came together. I was crowned Miss GB Manchester and also received the Charity Award and the Beach Body Award. Winning was one of the proudest moments of my life. But what I am most proud of is that I didn’t let earlier results define me.
Life rarely goes right the first time. Whether it’s exams, careers or personal goals, sometimes success comes from refusing to stop trying.
Why mental health matters
Growing up in farming has given me so much, but it has also shown me how quietly people can struggle. Farming can be isolating. The pressure is constant, and there’s often an expectation to just carry on.
I’ve seen and felt that. That’s why mental health is something I care deeply about. Having the title of Miss GB Manchester has given me a platform, but I want to use it for something meaningful. If sharing my story helps even one person feel less alone or encourages them to speak up, then it will be worth it.
You don’t have to choose
People often ask me how I balance farming, pageantry and my accounting apprenticeship.
The truth is I don’t always get it right. Some days are exhausting. Some days I question whether I’ve taken on too much.
But I’ve learned something important. For a long time I thought I had to choose who I wanted to be: the farmer, the accountant, or the pageant queen. But I don’t. Each part of my life has shaped me. The farm gave me resilience, my apprenticeship is building my future, and Miss GB Manchester has given me confidence and a voice. They don’t compete. They complete each other.
Setbacks don’t define your future. You don’t have to follow a straight path or choose just one version of yourself.
Because, in the end, it was never about choosing between muddy boots or high heels. It was about learning to stand strong in both.
Angela Renshaw, Director of Apprenticeships at Premier Training, adds: “Clare’s story is a reminder of what apprenticeships make possible.
She brings resilience, purpose and real commitment to her studies while carrying responsibility far beyond the classroom. We are incredibly proud to be part of her journey.”
