Britain’s Got Talent dancer with scoliosis reveals how Princess Eugenie inspired her to be confident when the royal ‘proudly’ unzipped her dress to show off her surgery scars during a private afternoon tea
- Poppy Gerrard, 18, was part of dance group Mersey Girls on Britain’t Got Talent
- Dancer, from Liverpool, invited to meet Princess Eugenie after got golden buzzer
- Poppy had been using platform to raise awareness of scoliosis – a condition which causes curvature of the spine, and with which Princess Eugenie was born
An aspiring beauty queen has revealed Princess Eugenie inspired her to be confident after the royal unzipped her dress and showed off her scoliosis scars in a private meeting.
Poppy Gerrard, 18, from Liverpool, was invited to meet the 30-year-old Princess after winning Alesha Dixon’s golden buzzer while auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent as part of the dance group, Mersey Girls.
The dancer and model who was then just 15 had been using the platform to raise awareness of scoliosis – a condition which causes a curvature of the spine, and with which Princess Eugenie was born.
After inspiring the Queen’s granddaughter with their message, Poppy and the rest of the group were invited for afternoon tea to meet the royal and was even invited to her wedding with Jack Brooksbank in 2018.
Poppy Gerrard, 18, from Liverpool, has revealed Princess Eugenie inspired her to be confident after the royal unzipped her dress and showed off her scoliosis scars in a private meeting
Poppy (pictured, second from left) was invited to meet the 30-year-old Princess after winning Alesha Dixon’s golden buzzer while auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent as part of the dance group, Mersey Girls
On her wedding day in 2018 to Jack Brooksbank, Eugenie wore a dress which proudly displayed the scar on her back
‘I will never forget that day, explained Poppy. It was just like we were talking to a friend.
‘She told us about her scoliosis journey and what she had been through with her operations.
‘At one point she unzipped her dress and showed us her scar. It gave me goosebumps that a princess was so proud of her imperfections and that she was prepared to share something like that with us.’
After their royal encounter, the Mersey Girls finished in ninth place on BGT but inspired by the meeting Poppy has entered the 2021 Miss England pageant in a bid to show more young women that they can achieve anything they put their minds to.
Poppy and the rest of the group were invited for afternoon tea to meet the royal and was even invited to her wedding with Jack Brooksbank in 2018 (pictured)
The dancer (pictured) told how Princess Eugenie told the group about her scoliosis journey and what she had been through with her operations
After their royal encounter, the Mersey Girls finished in ninth place on BGT. Pictured, Poppy
After receiving four A* grades in her recent A-levels, the young student (pictured) is due to start her degree in Mathematics at the University of Manchester next year while balancing her endeavours in modelling and acting
Princess Eugenie underwent surgery on her spine at the age of 12 so titanium could be added to repair the curvature which scoliosis had caused. Pictured, at a royal engagement in March
After receiving four A* grades in her recent A-levels, the young student is due to start her degree in Mathematics at the University of Manchester next year while balancing her endeavours in modelling and acting.
‘After the Golden buzzer but before the finals someone got in touch by email on behalf of the Royal Family,’ said Poppy.
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is the abnormal curvature of the spine in an S-shape.
Signs include a visible curve in the spine, one shoulder or hip being more prominent than the other, clothes not hanging properly and back pain.
Pain usually only affects adults with the condition.
In most cases, the cause of the scoliosis is not known but it can be caused by cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy.
In the UK, scoliosis affects three to four children could of every 1,000.
It is also thought that as many as 70 per cent of over 65s have some degree of scoliosis.
It is more common in women than in men.
Most children with the condition do not require treatment as it is mild and corrects itself as the child grows.
However, in severe cases the child may need to wear a back brace until they stop growing.
Occasionally, a child needs surgery to straighten their spine.
In adults, it is usually too late to treat the condition with a back brace or surgery so treatment revolves around reducing pain.
Source: NHS Choices
‘We had some correspondence with them via letter and that was really cool because it was all on Palace letter-headed paper.
‘The Palace was just stunning and after we chatted to her she kept in touch and she invited us to her Royal Wedding.
‘It was just a dream come true because there’s a little girl you dream of tea parties palaces and princesses.
‘She was so inspiring and down to earth and friendly.
‘It was just nice to see that the royals are just normal people and they are that genuine, kind and real.’
Eugenie underwent surgery on her spine at the age of 12 so titanium could be added to repair the curvature which scoliosis had caused.
The scar was also brought to the forefront of public attention on Eugenie’s wedding day to husband Jack Brooksbank.
The princess chose a stunning gown with a drop back that showed off her scar. Speaking at the time, Eugenie said it was important to highlight her journey with the condition.
The royal has stepped up her advocacy work in recent months.
She shared a post on International Scoliosis Awareness Day in June that read:
‘I just wanted to share my scar and encourage anyone out there who’s gone through something similar to share theirs with me.
‘Let’s be proud of our scars! I’d love to repost any of your images on my stories so please tag me and I will share. #internationalscoliosisawarenessday.’
The royal has highlighted stories shared by followers with the condition in the months since.
Eugenie is also the Royal Patron of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital where she had her childhood surgery.
You can now vote for Poppy or your favourite Miss England candidate on the free Miss England app.
In 2020, on International Scoliosis Awareness Day, the princess posted a picture of her scar onto her Instagram, encouraging other people with scars not to be ashamed of them
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