Events & Entertainment, Personalities | Posted on June 8th, 2026 | return to news

Local dancer crowned Miss Dorset 2026

Catherine Spencer won the prestigious Miss Dorset competition and will go on to compete in Miss Great Britain in October.

A professional dance graduate was crowned the winner of the Miss Dorset 2026 beauty pageant on Sunday 31 May at The Village Hotel, Bournemouth.

Catherine Spencer narrowly missed out on winning in 2025, coming in second place, but was the winner of Miss Photogenic. The 28-year-old, sponsored by D&O South Coast Solar, returned to the competition this year and impressed the judges to take home the title.

As a dance graduate, Spencer has spent years helping women build confidence through movement, encouraging them to feel strong, empowered and comfortable in their own skin. Away from the studio and her career as an account manager for a local waste brokerage in Bournemouth, she’s also no stranger to a challenge — she quite literally took a leap of faith by completing a skydive in support of A-Sisterhood, raising awareness for the charity’s work empowering women and girls around the world.

Spencer said: “Last year gave me a taste of what this competition could offer, and I knew I wanted to come back.

“To win Miss Dorset this year is an incredible feeling. I’ve met some amazing women through the competition and I’m excited to make the most of the year ahead.”

The Miss Dorset 2026 final showcased more than a dozen contestants from across the county. This year’s runner-up was Victoria Hillson, who appeared on the cover of May’s issue of Dorset View.

With the crown now secured, Spencer is looking forward to working with local organisations, supporting charitable causes, continuing her work supporting women’s confidence and wellbeing, and making the most of every opportunity the title brings. She would also like to thank local businesses Dress Devotion and Earring Envy for their generous gifts and support throughout her Miss Dorset journey.

Spencer will now go on to represent Dorset at the 81st Miss Great Britain Final, taking place in Leicester this October, where finalists from across the UK will compete for one of the country’s most prestigious pageant titles.