A BETHESDA girl wowed the judges to be crowned Miss Anglesey and Gwynedd.
Cassie Stephens, an 18-year-old trainee hairstylist will represent the region at
Miss Wales, and said that she was surprised to win.
“I’m shocked – I didn’t even think I’d get to the finals when I applied and I never expected to win,” she said.
Runners-up Emma Corbould, 17, from Bangor and Jade Richardson, 22, from Pentraeth will join Cassie in the Miss Wales Final at St. David’s Hall in Cardiff on June 26, where the winner will represent her country at this year’s Miss World contest in Vietnam.
Jade, studying for a masters in internal public relations at Cardiff University, said she had made new friends during the competition at the Stiwt Theatr in Rhosllanerchrugog, near Wrexham.
“I was terrified before but it’s not been catty at all – we all helped do each others’ hair and make-up,” she said.
Emma, a public services student at student at Coleg Menai won a public vote text vote and the Miss Charity title for fundraising.
The competitors at the North Wales heat of Miss Wales, raised £1500 for the Joshua Foundation, which arranges holidays and celebrity visits for terminally ill children through activities such as sponsored runs and rock climbs.
Sarah Cornelius founded the charity after her son Joshua died from cancer in 1998, said the competition had raised £250,000 for the foundation since 2007.
“Miss Wales has made a phenomenal contribution,” she said. “It’s helped lots of children and the girls have great fun,”
Paula Abbandonato of organisers Vibe Models hoped the event would encourage the competitors and other young women in North Wales to achieve their ambitions.
“Maybe the girls come wanting the prize, but they walk away with much more – it empowers them,” she said. “I hope it shows girls that they can be what they want to be, whether it’s Miss Wales or a vet.”
The other winners were 19-year-old Emily Wilkinson, of Dyserth, and Sammy-Jo Archer, 21, of Pen-y-Cae, who were named Miss Denbighshire and Miss Wrexham.