Poppy Harris spent seven years living with severe pain and repeated medical appointments before finally receiving a diagnosis, and is now looking to raise awareness around the condition.
Ruaraidh Britton Reporter
10:50, 01 Apr 2026
Poppy Harris(Image: Brian Hayes)
An Aberdeen student is using her place in the finals of Miss Great Britain Glasgow 2026 to raise awareness of endometriosis after her symptoms began at just 13 years old.
Poppy Harris, who is originally from Aberdeen and now lives in Edinburgh, will compete in the Miss Great Britain Glasgow final this May.
While taking part in the pageant is a new experience for the 21-year-old, she says the platform is about far more than competing on stage.
Poppy first began experiencing symptoms of endometriosis when she was a young teenager, and spent seven years living with severe pain and repeated medical appointments before finally receiving a diagnosis.
Endometriosis affects 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth, and is where cells similar to those in the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body.
During her teens, Poppy said she often felt confused and unsure about what was happening to her body. The condition also forced her to give up activities she loved, including competitive cheerleading.
Poppy Harris (Image: Brian Hayes)
Now a student who also works part time in a hotel, Poppy is using her platform in the competition to campaign for better awareness and education in schools on the issue, accepting the unacceptable and earlier education about women’s health conditions.
Her campaign is called “Not the End-o the World” and focuses on encouraging schools to include conditions such as endometriosis in the curriculum alongside sex education, and encouraging finding peace in the fact you will never truly accept your lifelong diagnosis, but enjoying the good days.
Poppy also admitted the lack of information available when she was younger made her journey far more difficult than it needed to be.
She said: “I grew up not knowing what was wrong with me. If we were taught about conditions like endometriosis earlier, so many girls would not feel so confused or alone.”
Through her campaign, Poppy hopes to visit more schools than she already has and speak to young people about women’s health. Her long term aim is to see conditions such as endometriosis included more widely in education so that future generations grow up better informed.
Alongside her awareness work, she is also planning to host a series of charitable events during her Miss Great Britain journey, beginning with her first event on April 30 at Pilgrim Bar in Edinburgh.
Poppy first started experiencing endometriosis symptoms as a teenager(Image: Brian Hayes)
Poppy explained: “I’m not doing this journey for me. I’m doing it for all the women who have sat through countless medical appointments and still don’t have answers, and for the women who finally do and aren’t sure what to do with them.
“It’s so important for women who are a part of any illness-related community to feel visible, and see someone who looks just like them on such a big stage. If I can do it, anyone can do it.
“Your scars and your illness don’t define you – and I will not be put in a box and hidden away any longer.”
Poppy also wants to highlight the emotional reality of living with a chronic condition. She says raising awareness is not only about education but also about changing the conversation around what life with endometriosis can look like.
“I’m not just campaigning for change in the education system. I also want to shine a light on the fact that it’s okay to have good days and bad days with this condition.
“It’s okay not to be okay with a lifelong painful diagnosis, but your life can still look like anything you want it to. Do not give your illness the power to rule your life. It’s okay to give it a day or two every so often, it’s okay to feel angry, frustrated, hurt and unhappy with how you look and feel because of your illness, but you must hold space for these feelings and look at the positives.
“My endometriosis journey has taught me so much more about being empathetic, kind, understanding and not judging a book by its cover. It’s broken my heart, but it’s made me the person I am today, the person I can be proud of.”
Poppy Harris is set to compete in the Miss Great Britain Glasgow final next month(Image: Brian Hayes)
Poppy says entering the pageant has also been about challenging stereotypes around beauty and confidence. She said she has not changed anything about herself in order to compete.
“When I step onto the stage I will have my surgery and hot water bottle scars on show, in the swimwear round. I’m proud of them. They don’t make anyone less beautiful.
“Confidence doesn’t come from starving yourself or pushing your body too far. It comes from treating your body like your friend. My body can only take gentle exercise, so that’s what it will get.
“I am what I am and I’m ready to show women with not just the same scars as me but with any scars, that they tell the story of your life. What a privilege it is to have made it through what we have and still come out the other side smiling.
“It’s a privilege to have learned everything I have about how I treat myself and treat others, and how I now view beauty standards.”
Alongside the competition Poppy is fundraising for two organisations that supported her after her diagnosis. She is raising money for Nicola’s Supporting Women’s Health Support and Endo Warriors West Lothian and plans to split all funds equally between the two groups.
Poppy has also been documenting her journey with endometriosis on social media, sharing honest videos before and after surgery on TikTok and Instagram, discussing everything from post-surgery wellness tips to her flare-friendly outfit recommendations. She hopes her story will encourage other women not to feel defined by their condition.
“I want women to know they are so much more than their illness, their bad days, their scars or what they look like. I went from feeling heartbroken after my diagnosis to now stepping on stage as a beauty queen.
“Speaking truthfully, I’d never have been able to do this if I hadn’t hit rock bottom first. If sharing my story helps even one woman feel less alone then it is worth it.
“Whether it’s an older woman who has had a lifelong battle or a little girl who’s just had her first period and is confused, I’m right here. Let’s enjoy this crazy journey together because it’s for all of you. You all matter.”
If she wins the Miss Great Britain Glasgow title in May, Poppy will go on to compete in the national finals of Miss Great Britain in October.
Supporters can follow her journey, charitable events and fundraising campaign on Instagram @popssharris and @nottheend_otheworld and on TikTok @popsharriss.
