Darlington beauty queen swaps catwalk for racetrack in charity bid

Nicole Hanson, 22, who holds the title of Miss Durham GB 2026, is using her platform to support Cancer Research UK after her great-grandad died from a brain tumour.

Instead of choosing a traditional talent, Nicole took on the Prescott Hill Climb, combining her passion for motorsport and challenging stereotypes.

Nicole Hanson (Image: Nicole Hanson)

She said: "I’ve always wanted to show that women belong in motorsport.

"It wasn’t about being the fastest on the day.

"It was about having the confidence to take on the challenge and hopefully inspire someone else to do the same."

Nicole is well known within the Abarth community, where she has spent the past few years bringing people together through events and social media. Arbath is the high-performance, scorpion-badged motorsport division of Fiat.

Her latest fundraising effort at Abarth Fest saw £224 raised for Cancer Research UK, with donations from visitors matched by Tuning Art.

Her journey into pageantry began through charity work with Abarth Club North East (Image: Nicole Hanson)

For Nicole, the fundraising is deeply personal.

She said: "Every donation helps fund research that could change someone’s future.

"Knowing people are getting behind the cause means so much to me, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me."

Nicole was crowned Miss Durham earlier this year through the Miss Great Britain competition and previously said she felt "like a normal girl from Darlington" when she found out she had been selected.

Nicole Hanson, 22, who holds the title of Miss Durham GB 2026, is using her platform to support Cancer Research UK after her great grandad died from a brain tumour. (Image: Nicole Hanson)

Her journey into pageantry began through charity work with Abarth Club North East, which raises money for causes including JPC Community Hub CIC in Middlesbrough, supporting people with additional needs.

Looking ahead to the national final, Nicole hopes to continue raising funds while also breaking down stereotypes around pageantry and motorsport.

She said: "People often think pageant contestants fit into one mould, but that’s never been me.

"I’m passionate about cars, charity and encouraging women to believe in themselves.

"If I can inspire even one person to try something they’ve always wanted to do, then that’s a success."

Nicole will represent County Durham at the Miss Great Britain final later this year while continuing her fundraising campaign.