Woman, 21, tipped to become the next Miss England after a five-year battle to recover from a psychiatric breakdown after her drink was spiked at a party and she lost 4th

A former mental patient is tipped to become the next Miss England after winning a courageous five-year battle to get herself fit (and slim) again.

Chloe McEwen, 21, was admitted to a psychiatric hospital at the age of 16 when she suffered a serious breakdown after her drink was spiked at a party.

But despite packing on the pounds while being treated for bipolar disorder, Chloe vowed to live with her condition, get her life back on track and started training at her local gym.

She lost four stone in her battle to get herself healthy again, physically and mentally, becoming a Level 3 fitness trainer – and helping others with mental health problems through fitness and exercise.

Last month Chloe, from Harrogate, entered her first ever beauty pageant and was crowned Miss Yorkshire, beating 20 other contestants, after making her successful battle with mental illness a key part of her entry.

The win means she has won a place in the Miss England final and will compete as an ambassador for the charity Mind to prove that people with serious mental health problems can recover from trauma. If she triumphs there, she will be eligible for Miss World.

Today Chloe showed off amazing images of her body transformation and said: ‘If you had told me when I was locked up in hospital after having a breakdown due to my bipolar condition that a few years later I would be a Miss England finalist, I would never have done. you believed.

“But hopefully other girls who are going through similar trauma now will be inspired by my journey. The key to my recovery was fitness. I noticed that the more I exercised, the better I felt.

‘I trained every day and was able to show the medical teams that treated me that I had overcome my demons and was able to leave the hospital.

“Beauty pageants, like everything else, have had to modernize and show participants that they have a purpose.

‘And for me that means talking positively about my road to recovery and working with the charity Mind to help other people get through the terrible mental health trauma I’ve suffered.’

Chloe hit rock bottom shortly after her 16th birthday when she believes her drink was spiked while she was partying with friends.

She couldn’t sleep for three days and doctors eventually dismembered her after she started hallucinating and threatened to jump out of a window.

Chloe suffered a serious breakdown after her drink was spiked at a party. Living on a diet of chips and white bread while in a psychiatric hospital caused her weight to gain

‘I peaked at 12 and a half stone and hated my body image. “I look at pictures of me from that time and can’t believe it’s the same person,” she said.

Chloe lost four stone in her battle to get healthy again and became a level 3 fitness trainer. She now helps others with mental health issues through fitness and exercise

Chloe started her journey by researching the science of fitness and convincing doctors she was healthy enough to go home

Last month, Chloe, from Harrogate, entered her first ever beauty pageant and was crowned Miss Yorkshire

She beat 20 other contestants after making her successful battle with mental illness a key part of her entry

The win has secured her a place in the Miss England final and she will compete as an ambassador for the charity Mind

Chloe explained: ‘I went through hell and was diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder. I was moved from one psychiatric hospital to another as doctors tried to get to the bottom of my condition.

‘My weight shot up because the food was so bad and I was living on chips, white bread, pizza and lots of sweet treats.

‘I peaked at 12 and a half stone and hated my body image. I look at photos of me from that time and can’t believe it’s the same person.

‘I realized that I could improve myself by getting fit and changing my diet. I started looking into the science of fitness and convinced the doctors I was well enough to go home.”

Chloe has written her own cookbook to help others achieve mental and physical health – using some of the food swaps and recipes she used while recovering.

She also works with Sports Trainer – a youth-focused charity that helps young people realize their sporting potential with equipment and other support.

Chloe has signed her first modeling contract with the Prom Den, a clothing store in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, which specializes in glamorous prom dresses. She wore one of the Prom Den dresses during her Miss Yorkshire heat.

“I would have loved to go to my old prom after my final exams, but unfortunately that was while I was still in the hospital,” she said.

‘Girls love to dress up to the nines for a big party night after working so hard on their exams.

‘Prom dancing is hugely popular in Yorkshire schools and it’s great to be modeling for such a fantastic brand.’