In November 1964, a group of 15 top pageant judges in London agreed that Ann Sidney was the most beautiful out of the 43 international contestants standing before them, and she was crowned Miss World.

The experience was something of a whirlwind for Ann.

At the time a young hairdresser's apprentice from Poole, she had entered the Bournemouth Regatta Queen competition in Bournemouth Gardens aged just 15, where she was announced the winner following a 'clap-o-meter' scoring system.

She went onto win Miss Dorset and then Miss UK, before being awarded the Miss World title just three months later.

"It wasn't judged on brains," admits Ann, "there was no 'talent' category - but it was different days.

"They said I was the girl that put Poole on the map in 1964."

After winning the coveted title, Ann, now 73, travelled around the world five times, and used the experience as a stepping stone into the acting world, joining repertory theatre before going on to star on stage and screen alongside names including Dirk Bogarde, Susannah York and Mick Jagger.

She remains an actress today, but says she made sure her year's reign as Miss World - during which she dated entertainer Bruce Forsyth and visited Vietnam to entertain the troops with Bob Hope - was time well spent.

Ann became an ambassador for the wool industry, travelling around promoting pure wool.

"It was just excitement really," she remembers, "we didn't have very much excitement in our lives. Everything was very different then - women didn't have the same sort of opportunities.

"My life changed completely. It's a temporary, shallow thing - it's not a career, it was merely a stepping stone for me. But it was a great education - it made my brain stronger and more powerful.

"I may not have made a huge success of fame, but that doesn't bother me, because I had that once in my life. I'm still working and I'm writing - I want to get a book out. If you're lucky enough to follow your passion - you've had a good life."

Like Ann, 24-year-old Sam Bumford, also from Poole, was shocked when she was crowned 2017's Miss Dorset at the Love Dorset Festival gala event in March.

But that is where the similarities end - the contest Sam won is a world away from the pageants Ann took part in.

"It's grown to be a competition that celebrates young, ambitious women for a lot more than good lucks, with an emphasis on how they inspire healthy and ethical living," explains Miss Dorset founder and organiser and ethical living ambassador Kelly Levell.

Sam, who is training to be a primary school teacher, agrees that the charity and eco side of the contest was almost more important to her than the overall title.

"The ones I really wanted to win were Miss Eco and Miss Charity, because that's what I really believe in," she says.

Sam has been involved with the Woofability charity, which trains assistance dogs for the disabled, for nine years and is an ambassador for the cause as well as being commercial manager for Poole Town Football Club and a keen supporter of Julia's House children's hospice.

"I just love to get involved with charities and help out," she explains.

"That's what I loved about the competition. Things have changed so much, it's not a beauty pageant any more. I didn't enter because I think I'm beautiful - I entered to raise the profile and help the charities."

Jack Eyers, who has just been announced as the first ever Mr Dorset, is also keen to use his title as a platform to help others.

"I'm a personal trainer, so promotion of fitness is really important for me," he explains.

"I'm also an amputee, so I'm trying to be an inspiration for amputees to try and be more active."

Jack, from Bournemouth, has travelled internationally as a model after being spotted by an agency, was the first amputee to walk in New York and Milan Fashion Weeks and was involved in the Paralympic Opening Ceremony.

"I've set my challenge in life to become a role model," says the 28-year-old, who had his leg amputated aged 16 and wants to open a rehabilitation centre in the next few years.

"It's big steps," admits Jack, "but this is a great platform - it's breaking barriers."

Ann agrees the pageant world has certainly changed for the better.

"It's shifted a lot now, because it has to," she says. "There's more of a considered social conscience, which is great.

"There's a lot of shame attached to beauty queens, but I think the core root if it is envy. I think eventually the public will embrace it more by realising how much it's changed.

"You have more of a platform to do things. You learn a lot - to me, that's the purpose of life."

Both Jack and Sam, who are ambassadors for ethical fashion brands Cream & Co and Revo Sunglasses along with Miss Dorset organiser Kelly Levell, are representing Dorset in the Mr & Miss England finals in Birmingham next month.

Follow their journey through wedoethical.org or @WeDoEthicalLiving