Brief

71‑year‑old ‘Glamour Gran’ falls short at Miss Great Britain Classic final

Ann Marie Harper, known as Glamour Gran Ann, was awarded an impact‑over‑image prize after finishing outside the top five.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 17 Oct 2026 11:02:23 GMT

Ann Marie Harper, a 71‑year‑old contestant from Ayrshire who entered the Miss Great Britain Classic category as “Glamour Gran”, was ranked outside the top five at the national final held on Friday night in Leicester, Standard reported.

What happened

The Miss Great Britain Classic category, open to women aged 45 and over, featured Harper alongside younger rivals, some up to 26 years her junior. Ally Sussex of Surrey won the Classic crown after three attempts, while the overall Miss Great Britain title went to Yazmin McClean of Belfast and the Ms Great Britain title to Holly Pirrie of Warrington. Harper received the “impact over image” award for her Classic entry.

What the reports add

Standard noted that Harper had previously won the Miss Great Britain Classic Ayrshire title in June, which qualified her for the Leicester final. The outlet also highlighted her statement to the Press Association that the competition was “really isn’t just about the winning”.

What was said

Harper told the Press Association before the final that she had been on an “amazing journey” this year and that the pageant gave her a platform she “could never have imagined at 71”. In an Instagram post she wrote, “Every interview, every fundraiser and every opportunity to share my story has been a chance to make a difference.” She added, “If my journey inspires even one woman to believe that her age doesn’t define her possibilities… then I’ve achieved something incredibly special.”

How it came about

Felo previously covered Harper’s historic qualification on 12 October, noting her age‑defying entry and her cosmetics brand launched at 66. The current article builds on that background, showing how her participation concluded with an award for impact rather than a top‑five placement.

Key facts

Ann Marie Harper, 71, competed in the Miss Great Britain Classic final in Leicester. (standard.co.uk)
She was ranked outside the top five and received the “impact over image” award. (standard.co.uk)
Ally Sussex of Surrey won the Classic category; Yazmin McClean and Holly Pirrie won the other titles. (standard.co.uk)
Harper had previously won the Miss Great Britain Classic Ayrshire title in June. (standard.co.uk)
She launched a cosmetics brand at age 66, selling the Glam Goddess Collection. (standard.co.uk)