Laura Martin hopes she can inherit her best friend’s crown.
Her best friend is Miss Wales Sara Manchipp and she’s persuaded Laura that she has the looks and the figure to follow in her footsteps.
“My best friend Sara won the Miss Neath and Port Talbot and then became Miss Wales and now she’s on her way to the Miss World Pageant,” said Laura, who is a shop assistant in the USC fashion store in the Swansea Quadrant shopping centre.
“I’ve never done anything like this in my entire life,” said Laura, who now finds she is through to the Miss Swansea finals.
Twenty-one year old Laura, who comes from Wye Close, Bonymaen, Swansea, said: “I entered on-line and sent some photos in and I had a letter to say I was through to the semi-finals.
“I went to the Oceana Club where I had to do a three minute interview. They ask the contestants different questions such as how it would affect you if you won Miss Swansea.
“I would be over the moon to be honest because to be in the final is something I didn’t expect and to win would be really amazing.”
Laura and Sara have been friends since school days. Both are fluent Welsh speakers who attended Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, and even since school days have been having sleep-overs virtually every week.
Miss Swansea finals night, when the 10 girls have to wear jeans and a Miss Swansea T-shirt, a little black dress and then evening gown, will be held at the Oceana club on November 24, starting at 7.30pm.
Assistant manager at USC, Rob Logan, said: “We all wish Laura the best of luck. She’s a pretty girl and I’m sure she’ll do well. No doubt some of us will get along on the night to lend our support and shout for her.”
Laura added: “I could not have asked for more support from work, they’ve been very, very good.”
Alan Wallace, Manager of the Quadrant Centre, said: “We’re delighted to see that Laura is through to the finals and hope she can follow in the footsteps of her friend.
“It would be great for her to bring the title to the Quadrant.”
Laura started out in child care after leaving school but had to change her job when her father Michael moved to their current address where Laura lives with dad, who works for Tesco near the Quadrant, and step mum Christine.
Also supporting Laura on her big night will be boyfriend Paul Baker from Cimla, who works for a Port Talbot glass company.
“He’s really, really proud of me and is supporting me all the way,” said Laura.
“I know that if I win Miss Swansea it will involve a lot of charity events for the Joshua Foundation which is dedicated to giving life experiences to children who are terminally ill with cancer.
“I’ve seen all the things that Sara has achieved since she won the title and I’m so proud of her. It would be great to win and have her hand over her crown to me one day.”
