What a knock out: Beauty queen who idolised Jordan and turned to boxing to beat bullies wins first championship title

By Daily Mail Reporter
Created: 07:50 EDT, 28 November 2011

She gave up her lifelong ambition of 'being the next Jordan' for a pair of boxing gloves.

And it looks as though Sasha Bennington's sacrifice has paid off.

The beauty queen has just won her first title and now has her sights on Olympic success.

Sasha has had six fights and is currently the north west Amateur Boxing Association title holder after beating Cheshire fighter Beth Campbell - and hopes to be selected for the GB squad.

Sasha Bennington has just won her first title and now has her sights on Olympic success

'My goal is to compete at the Olympics,' said Sasha. 'My coaches have told me I am good enough so that is what I am aiming for.

'Obviously boxing is completely different to the beauty pageants but you have to be just as disciplined. I really enjoy it.'

The 15-year-old used to be obsessed by her looks - spending £300 a month on clothes, fake tan, make-up and bleached blonde hair extensions - but after suffering abuse from playground bullies, she began boxing.

Sasha now trains five times a week and now dreams of winning gold for Great Britain

'Because I had been on TV and was entering beauty pageants, I would get picked on,' said Sasha, who competes in the 58-60kg category.

'It was all because they were jealous and they would call me Barbie Doll.

'I wanted to be able to stand up for myself if I needed to, so I went down to the boxing gym and discovered I was good at it.'

Sasha now trains five times a week and now dreams of winning gold for Great Britain.

She still competes in the beauty contests and has won the last six she has entered.

And next month, Sasha hopes to strike another blow in the Face of Europe finals at Disneyland Paris.

The thick layers of make-up, fake nails and bleached blonde that won her her first beauty pageant have been replaced with a more natural look.

'You can't box wearing false nails,' she said. 'I really enjoy competing in both and boxing has actually helped in the pageants as it keeps me toned.

'I've had a black eye and a burst nose but I'm not worried that boxing will affect my looks.

'If you are a good boxer, you don't get hit as much.'

Sasha, who entered her first beauty contest aged eight, is confident about the forthcoming contest in Paris.

She said: 'I am a great role model to other girls, and I also raise money for several charities, and have visited other countries where I have witnessed natural disasters.

'I feel that I would be able to promote my title throughout Europe, as my experience in life so far has made me the genuine, honest person that I am today.

'I think I stand a good chance of winning.' Before taking up boxing 20 months ago, Sasha would spend hours in front of the mirror.

'I was obsessed about my looks,' said Sasha, from Burnley, Lancs. 'I thought it was the most important thing but now I know differently,' she added.

Proud mum Jayne Harris said: 'I love watching Sasha box. I go to cheer her on and shout 'hit her' - I love it. She is really good at it and she is amazing.
'I love the thrill of seeing her doing well.

'Boxing is a lot less bitchy than beauty contests and Sasha may not look like your normal boxer, but after 10 seconds of being in the ring, her opponents certainly know she means business.

'We were hoping that Sasha would be able to compete in London 2012, but she misses the cut off age by two weeks.

The 15-year-old used to be obsessed by her looks - spending £300 a month on clothes, fake tan, make-up and bleached blonde hair extensions

'But she can still train with the GB squad and there are always the Europeans to go for.'

Jayne, who appeared on C4's Wife Swap, says she regrets spending so much money in pursuit of turning her daughter into a glamour model

Property developer Jayne, 34, added 'You certainly don't get many good-looking boxers like Sasha. I think it surprises her opposition as they don't expect to be fighting someone who is good-looking and it gives Sasha the edge.'

Jayne, who appeared on C4's Wife Swap, says she regrets spending so much money in pursuit of turning her daughter into a glamour model.

'Looking back I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have tried to make Sasha look like Jordan - I regret it and would so things differently.'

Jayne, who also has a son Max, 11, added: 'I just wanted to give my children the best and make them happy. But I couldn't have gone on spending what I did.

'I would give them everything they wanted but spending £300 on clothes and beauty treatment was too much.

'Sasha still likes to look good but is no longer obsessed.'

The talented boxer has already bagged herself a footballer. 'He plays for Huddersfield Town and is doing well,' said Sasha.

Jayne added: 'Yeah, she's going to be a WAG. That's good because it means he can pay for all your clothes instead of me!'