A TAUNTON mum who survived domestic violence has won an international beauty pageant title in Las Vegas.
Competing against women from several countries, Sarah Kana-ah was crowned Ms Regency International, and also won the carnival queen, fitness model, swimwear model and national costume categories.
Her prize is a cruise around Mexico and a trip to Orlando next year to crown her successor.
Sarah, who created a survivors' network and mental health support group in Somerset, wore several costumes, including her national outfit featuring a lion, rose, the Union Flag and a message to domestic violence survivors, "I'm one voice, together we will roar."
Her experience has given her a passion to support children in need and families who have fled domestic violence and she donates Easter eggs and toys at Christmas to a refuge and children in Musgrove Park Hospital.
She said: "Supporting children in hospital is important to me and close to my heart because when my son Ethan was born I spent time a lot of time at the special care unit with him.
"Supporting women and families who have fled abuse is so important to me I went through a domestic violence relationship when I was just 13-years-old.
"I’ve experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse which resulted in anxiety, so I know what it’s like to hit rock bottom.
"When you’re in a domestic violence relationship you’ve been made to believe you aren’t good enough for anyone, resulting in very low self-esteem, anxiety, low self-worth and a lack of confidence and inner strength.
"It’s takes a lot to break that trauma bond and finally leave the cycle of abuse.
"When people make the step to leave their homes and move to a refugee for protection, they usually have to leave very quickly often with very few possessions with very little money, and a long way from friends and schools."
Sarah runs Facebook platform – Empower, Protecting Women’s Safety - for survivors of domestic violence, teaching self-defence techniques and helping build back inner strength, confidence, self-esteem and protection skills, while educating boundaries and red flags in relationships.
Sarah added: "It means everything to be crowned the international winner. To help inspire and empower woman far and wide. My goal is to be a symbol of strength to others and that light at the end of the tunnel for anyone sat there thinking they can't get away from a perpetrator or feel that they aren't enough. If I can do it, so can you."
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