A DERBY beauty queen, who has been crowned Miss England, has

promised to make the city and country proud during her year in

the limelight.

Laura Coleman, whose mother and grandmother have previously

won beauty contests, said scooping the title was a dream come

true.

The 22-year-old, who won the Miss Derby title earlier this

year, has now set her sights on the Miss World crown when she

takes part in the competition, in Ukraine, in October.

She said: “It is just unbelievable that I have won Miss

England.

“I can't describe how it feels to go from this normal girl

one minute to this the next. It's just so exciting.

“I hope I am the right girl for the job. I am really going

to give it my all to do Derby and England proud.

“I would love to win Miss World. It would be a great honour.

I'll give it my best shot.”

Laura, formerly of Chellaston, beat off competition from 20

other stunners to win the Miss England title at a glitzy

ceremony in London on Friday night.

As well as the mandatory sash and crown, Laura scooped a

host of prizes including £5,000 cash; a designer evening gown

and evening shoes, worth £5,000; a TV presenter's course; a set

of luggage; and a photo shoot worth £3,000.

She will also get hair extensions worth £1,000, dental work

worth £1,000, a year's free hairdressing and beauty treatments

and a year's supply of fake tan and jewellery worth £3,000.

Taking part in beauty contests runs in Laura's family – her

mother, Dena, 56, made it to the finals of Miss UK in 1975 and

her grandmother, Irene Patrick, 85, also boasts numerous

titles, including Miss Army Pin-Up.

During Friday's event, Laura, who graduated on Tuesday from

De Montford University, in Leicester, with a 2:1 degree in

business and marketing, even wore the dress her mother wore on

stage in 1975.

Laura said: “Being a beauty queen isn't really a family

tradition, it is just how it worked out.

“They never pushed me into anything.

“This is something that I wanted to do.”

One of the event organisers, Rhona Shafik, said Laura, who

now lives in Melton Mowbray, was a popular winner.

She said: “She is a really sweet girl and a deserving

winner.”

In second place was 17-year-old Chloe Marshall, a trainee

opera singer from Surrey and the first size-16 girl to reach a

Miss England final.

In third place was law student Jessica Linley.