Since being crowned Miss Durham earlier this year, Nicole Hanson has used her platform to bridge two distinct passions: pageantry and motorsport.
Known throughout the local automotive community as an Abarth enthusiast and Fiat 500 fan, she is leveraging her audience of over 8,000 social media followers to bring car culture and beauty pageants together.
After putting her name forward for Miss Durham in October 2025 and completing her interview in January, Nicole was crowned in February, earning a direct place in the Miss Great Britain final.
At the start of her reign, she wanted to create an event of her own this year and raise money for charity. That idea became the Charity Show & Shine 2026, held at Alloy Wheel Workshop in Team Valley to celebrate the business’s opening.
The event was held at The Alloy Wheel Workshop in Team Valley and brought together car lovers from Durham, Gateshead and surrounding north east areas. More than 65 cars attended throughout the day, with some enthusiasts travelling from Scotland, and the event raised an incredible £1,270 for Cancer Research UK.
There were awards for Best Paint, Best Wheels, Best Interior and Hidden Gem, while entry and raffle money all went towards the charity.
Nicole was supported by Spud Detailing, who donated amazing raffle prizes, alongside HB Vinyls, H2O Hydrogen Engine Cleaning and Bigby Studios, who helped create the meet stickers and trophies. The Alloy Wheel Workshop also donated a full wheel refurb to one lucky winner.
The response was so good that Nicole even ran out of raffle tickets.
But the fundraiser had a much deeper meaning for her.
Nicole lost her great-grandad, who she describes as being more like her grandad, to a brain tumour when she was 13.
“He was the funniest man alive,” she said.
“One of the hardest things is knowing he never got to see the woman I’ve become. I wanted this event to honour his memory, but also everyone who has lost someone to cancer.”
Throughout the day, Nicole heard personal stories from members of the community about their own experiences with cancer, making the fundraising even more meaningful.
While Nicole has enjoyed some of the glamorous side of pageantry, she admits her reign has looked rather different.
“Yes, I’ve done a few studio shoots and posed in some lovely dresses, but the majority of my reign has been spent standing in fields looking at cars or at track days,” she laughed.
“I wouldn’t even say I’m a girly girl. I’m rubbish at hair and makeup and generally live in a hoodie and leggings!
“That’s what I really wanted to portray by having this title. If I was lucky enough to win Miss GB, I’d love to educate the car scene about what pageantry can actually do and the good it can create.”
Nicole’s fundraising journey isn’t over yet. On October 2, just two weeks before the Miss GB final, she will abseil down the Francis Crick building at King’s Cross.
“I’m hoping to finish my Miss Durham journey on a high — literally!”
Nicole will then head to the Miss Great Britain final on October 16 to represent Durham.
And there could be an especially fitting twist waiting for her at the final. One of the prizes for the eventual winner is a car, sponsored by The Vehicle Consultancy.
“I mean, how iconic would it be?” Nicole laughed. “A car girl becoming Miss Great Britain and potentially winning a car as part of the prize package!
“I’d absolutely love to come home with the crown, but for now I’m just excited to represent Durham and see what happens.”
So, come October 16, Nicole will swap the car meets for the Miss GB stage — and who knows, she could come home with a crown and a set of keys. What a way for a car girl to finish her Miss Durham journey.
