The sister of a Scottish teenager killed in a hit-and-run has taken the pageant world by storm after her confidence was shaken by the tragedy.
Erin Friar’s world came crashing down on July 7, 2019, when her 15-year-old brother Robin was struck and killed by a speeding driver in Paisley.
In the aftermath, her mother, Laura McGrath, watched her daughter retreat into her shell, until a friend suggested she take part in a Women Empowering Future event in Scotland.
The 14-year-old from Neilston continues to beat competition from around the world to earn the title of Junior FOEW International Supreme Queen.
And every time she takes to the stage wearing a blue outfit that pays homage to Robin’s favorite color, a piece of her beloved sister is with her.
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Proud mum-of-three Laura, 39, who joins friend Ferne Maxwell as co-director of FOEW Scotland, spoke of how the pageant changed her daughter’s life. .
She said: “Participating in these events brought my daughter back to me. After Robin’s death, her self-confidence decreased greatly. Since she was still in elementary school, she was very much loved by other children in her class. I was a little inconvenienced.
“She was at a very tender age and I could see her losing confidence. My friend Fern, who had competed in these competitions before, encouraged me to try it out. He recommended it to me.
“I had no idea what it was. I just thought it was little girls in pretty dresses, and I wondered what harm it could do. We took her. She really enjoyed it. She was very nervous before speaking, but Fern kindly accepted her.
“She’s Erin’s pageant mom now, and she has all the costumes. When Erin came on stage, I was just like, ‘Holy crap, where does this little girl come from?'”
Since then, Erin has participated in countless charity events and community appearances as part of her role as Queen. And her mother Laura said how much the pageant world has to offer other young women.
She explained: “Erin has grown into a confident young woman. She has learned all her news-related skills, including her public speaking skills.
“And the friends she’s made are really amazing. They call each other ‘sister queens,’ which was exactly what she needed after losing her sister.” I’ve seen how contests have helped Erin in every way.
“I want other mothers and other girls to know that this whole family exists. Erin has a life where she’s not just a pretty girl in a dress. There is evidence that it is more than that.”
High school student Erin admits that she still gets nervous before events, but that her “worries went away” when her name was called.
And she believes that wearing a special nomination bracelet that belonged to Robin right before a show will bring her good luck on stage.
She added: “It’s helped me gain confidence and I’ve made friends all over the UK. I get to travel back and forth to different events and meet all my sister queens.”
She also joked that her costumes would continue to be chosen by her “pageant mom” Fern, given her mother’s limited experience.
FOEW Scotland has chosen to support local charity Brightest Star this year to support their work with Robin’s family in memory of Robin.
The teenager was beaten to death by Sean Gatti while walking home from a night out with friends. Gatti was later imprisoned for five years.
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