A SHOWCASE dress made out of an old wooden pallet stunned judges at this year’s Miss Coventry finals.
Sian Healy secured the prize of ‘The Green Goddess’ for the best eco dress in the annual competition.
The 17-year-old from Binley transformed the planks of wood into a dress fit for purpose as the teenager raised the profile of cyber bullying after becoming an online victim herself.
Designed and manufactured by former soldiers at the Royal British Legion’s Industries (RBLI), the pallet tells the story of the dangers of neglect and being taken for granted in 21st Century Britain.
Not only did Sian’s dress bag the ‘Best Dress’ prize, but she also won the best promotional campaign in the regional heat.
It marked a new phase of Sian’s life after she was previously assaulted outside a Coventry hotel as part of a coordinated attack organised online – meaning she shut herself away for weeks at a time.
Now working as a business administrator for Rugby-based GAP, Sian said: “I realised locking myself away was the wrong approach.
“If you have issues, you should share the problems with your parents or friends.
“Talking about it and coming off certain social media platforms really helped me to rebuild my life.
“I am going to continue making children aware of cyber bullying as well as taking part in lots of charity work to raise vital funds for Coventry & Warwickshire MIND.
“I have always held back from following my dreams and lacked a lot of confidence but I have fought my battles and came out wanting to help children and young people going through the same thing.”
Proud mum Claire added: “She was so traumatised that she would not venture out of her room – her father and I were so worried.
“She is now becoming a real ambassador for the charity and raising the issue of cyber bullying and its impact by going into schools to talk to teenagers about the risks of Internet trolls.”
Sian has raised more than £1,000 for Coventry and Warwickshire MIND – a mental health charity which helps youngsters overcome anxieties – during her Miss Coventry campaign.
