Personal loss inspires family’s pageantry work for charities

By Callum McGuigan

AN Omagh woman who lost her baby daughter is channelling her personal trauma into a fundraising drive by competing in various pageantries.

Lisa-Marie McCrory and her daughters, Meadow and Savannah, have won national titles across the UK.

Savannah won the People’s Choice Talent award, Meadow won Mini Miss Shining Light and Lisa brought the Dreams UK Irish Heritage award back to Omagh for the first time.

The family’s push to raise money for charity comes from Lisa-Marie’s personal trauma of losing her daughter Ocean-Hope, after she was born prematurely and lived less than three hours.

Lisa had a Mirena coil implant, which in most cases would require a pregnancy test before insertion, however this was not offered to Lisa. After frequent bleeding, Lisa admitted herself to the hospital where a biopsy ensued, and Lisa found out she was pregnant.

Lisa-Marie said, “The Mirena coil caused an infection in my placenta.

“Ocean was 23 weeks into my pregnancy when she passed and then my womb was removed. It was a period in my life I will never forget.”

Ocean-Hope died in her mother’s arms after only surviving for three hours.

Since them Lisa-Marie and her young daughters have competed in several pageants designed to raise money for charities.

These events, such as Miss Shining Light, are designed to promote inclusivity and worthwhile causes such as mental health awareness.

“We don’t go to win crowns, we do it in my daughter’s memory,” Lisa-Marie said when explaining why she competes.

“I like to spend time with my daughters and give them these opportunities after the death of my youngest daughter last year. Not only does it let me handle my grief, but it is a great opportunity to raise money for charity.”

Lisa-Marie has raised £300 for AWARE, a mental health charity which provides services across the North for illnesses such as bipolar disorder, depression and for carers of those who are ill.

This charity is particularly important to Lisa-Marie as she has battled, and continues to battle with, mental health illness.

“As a survivor of mental health illness for the last 17 years, it’s very close to my heart and so is baby loss,” said the Omagh mum.

The pageantries, both Dreams UK and Shining light are, competitive in nature, with various challenges that participants can compete in.

Over the three days of the Dreams UK pageantry, Lisa Marie’s daughters, Savanna and Meadow competed in the talent, scrapbook, formal and fashion categories.

Meadow won best in fashion and scrapbook, and Savannah won the talent category with her Irish dancing performance, landing her the people’s choice talent award.

“The girls love keeping their wee sister’s memory alive through helping others. They are very caring and talented,” said Lisa-Marie

In a separate pageantry in the Everglades Hotel in Derry, Meadow claimed first place and between all the finalists they raised £7,000 for New Pin, a charity for mother’s mental health in the Western Trust and PIPs suicide prevention charity.

In the immediate future, the family have a busy schedule ahead of them in Ireland, the UK and even the US.

They will be travelling to Scotland on May 11, Blackpool on May 27 and Manchester on July 12. Beyond, that Lisa-Marie herself has a competition in Orlando, Florida in 2024 for a national title, where her cause is baby loss.

She said, “These charities have helped me so much over the last year, especially since I lost my wee daughter.

“She passed away on my chest and as heartbroken as I still am, throwing myself into these pageantries is helping me keep Ocean’s memory alive.

“It also gives my kids opportunities in life so overall this is helping me, my family and the charities we give the money to.