Miss England winner vows to make Derby proud

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.