Meet the Miss England contestants vying to make it to the top of the world

By Deborah Arthurs

Last updated at 8:04 PM on 18th July 2011

Tomorrow evening 64 girls will battle it out at the Miss England finals for the chance to represent their nation in Miss World, which is to be held in the UK for the first time in decades this November and, incredibly, will be watched by an audience of two billion across the globe.

We bring you some of the contestants the bookmakers have tipped for the top... PLUS check back here tomorrow at 7pm for live streaming of the Miss England final

Left to right: Miss Bath, Amy Willerton; Miss York, Anastasia Smith; Miss London, Rissikat Obade; Miss Harrogate, Alexandra Devine; Miss Lipsy, Courtenay Dodd; Miss Newcastle, Hannah Gray; Miss Liverpool, Sarah Farley; Miss Manchester, Nicola McConnell; Miss Fylde Coast, Sophie-Leigh Anderson

MISS BATH
Amy Willerton, 18

Height: 5'9''

Vitals: 32-24-34

Dress size: 8

Amy Willerton is a strong contestant from an academic and charitable point of view. Aged 17 she organised a charity fashion event attended by over 400 people that raised £2,000 for The Variety Club, supporting sick and disabled children across the country.

The cause is particularly dear to Amy's heart as her little brother suffers severe disabilities, including a rare chromosomal disorder and autism.

She has, she says, passionately involved herself in working with similar charities and causes for the majority of her life, and can communicate using Makatron, the international sign language for those with learning difficulties.

On the same day that she launched her charity show, she received her results in 3 A-levels - she scored 100 per cent in one, gaining an A*. As well as her 13 GCSEs, she was selected for a degree programme in Theology run by the top six universities in England.

A confident public speaker, she has made speeches at various events, from charity to sport, appearing on TV channels such ITV to Sky Sports - most memorably performing alongside Russell Brand during his 'Booky Wook 2' tour.

She has promoted and developed various schemes from the 'We are what we do' campaign to her anti-bullying 'Gold Star' scheme. Her happiest moment to date was winning the regional heat into Miss England. 'It is something I shall never forget and be proud of for the rest of my life,' she says.



MISS RUGBY
Rebecca Morton, 24

Height: 5'10''

Vitals: 36-27-40

Dress size: 12

Since Rebecca graduated from university with a degree in acting two years ago she has appeared on BBC's Doctors and in the period drama Land Girls, as well as landing advertising campaigns for Berghaus, Matalan and Special K.

Rebecca loves dancing, horseriding, skiing and scuba diving, and has a talent for underwater photography.

'Being deep under the waves is a beautiful place and I love being able to share it through my photography,' she says.

Body confidence: As a successful size 12 model, Miss Rugby, Rebecca Morton, hopes to highlight the issues surrounding women's body image. As a curvy girl, she herself has felt the pressures of feeling she has to diet to conform to industry norms, and has learnt to feel comfortable with her body weight

As a successful size 12 model Rebecca hopes to highlight the issues surrounding women's body image. 'I would love to help make a change in the way people view the issue of size,' she says.

'Being a curvy girl myself I have felt the pressures of feeling I have to diet to look a certain way and now I'm comfortable within my body and being my healthy body weight and would love to encourage other girls and women to do the same.

'If I was lucky enough to win Miss England it would be a dream come true and I would love to represent my country as a hard working, ambitious young lady and to inspire others to follow their dreams, no matter what their size.'

MISS LONDON
Rissikat Bade, 21

Height: 5'10''

Vitals: 34-25-36

Dress size: 8

Rissikat has acted and modelled since she was a child, touring Europe in productions and appearing in magazines and at London Fashion Week.

Currently studying law, writing is her off-duty passion, and one of her short stories was published in a book in Ukraine. She would love to become a successful author one day. Rissikat loves to keep fit and enjoys dancing to pop, modern jazz and ballet.

'In the future I want to have a position in life when I can inspire people, lift up their spirit and help them believe in themselves,' she says.

Education is one of her top priorities and, as well as a full-time law course at South Bank University, she is also studying freelance journalism. Rissikat says she loves learning new languages - she is bilingual in Russian and Ukrainian and would like to conquer French next.

Red hot: Miss London Rissikat Bade is one of the bookmakers' favourites to take top spot at tomorrow's Miss England competition

MISS LIVERPOOL
Sarah Fairley, 21

Height: 5'8''

Vitals: 32-26-30

Dress size: 8

Sarah has a flair for business, holding two managerial roles and successfully setting up a charity in memory of her best friend, the Dominique Williams Memorial Trust Fund. Since starting the charity 22 months ago she has been able to set up a Dance Academy for children.

Sarah is creative with has an eye for fashion - she made her own evening gown for the Miss Liverpool finals - and is a keen horsewoman, having ridden since she was eight years old.

Sarah's ambition, apart from winning Miss England, of course, is to fulfill her dreams of becoming a model and actress.








MISS FYLDE COAST
Sophie Leigh-Anderson, 21

Height: 5'7''

Vitals: 32-25-32

Dress size: 10

Sophie says she is pleased with her achievement 12 GCSEs at grades A*-C. The face of Cancer Research for Blackpool (and girlfriend of Liverpool's new signing, Charlie Adams), Sophie has a diploma in performing arts and enjoys public speaking, horse riding, cooking, singing, skiing and ice-skating. Her main ambition, she says is to 'represent England in Miss World: 'Since i can remember as a little girl it would be my goodnight story and in my constant conversations.

'I idolised my mum who as a teenager appeared in most local beauty pageants, and watching Miss World together on the television set the goal firmly in my head.'

If Sophie wins, she says she wants to put across just how much charity and fundraising work is achieved in being Miss England. Her passions? 'I want to prove that the real beauty in our girls is within; to put an end to the argument about size 0 models/plus size models; to show how much Miss World brings nations together and to show that surgery isn't the answer. Phew.

The Miss England contestants show their green side in a range of homemade, eco-inspired costumes for their 'recycle' challenge. From left, Rissikat Bade, Miss London; Shiralee Gould, Miss Weymouth; Laura Gregory, Miss Middlesex; Bethany Tamsett, Miss Essex; Sophie Chryssaphes; Miss Hertfordshire, Natalie Cutler; Miss Birmingham and Hannah Higgins, Miss South Yorkshire

MISS MANCHESTER
Nicola McConnell, 18

Height: 5'6''

Vitals: 30-22-30

Dress size: 6

A keen student, Nicola recently completed an Open University course on Life in The Oceans, and has won a place to study Medicine at Manchester University this September. She has 10 GCSEs at A*-B in a range of subjects from Sciences to Latin, as well as 6 AS Levels and an NVQ in business and enterprise.

The deputy head girl at school, Nicola is passionate about fundraising and enjoyed being an academic mentor to younger girls.

Nicola also loves to cook, write - she's written a number of screenplays - and has a love of acting. She hopes one day to be a great doctor, specialising in psychiatry. 'I believe that as Miss England I could raise awareness for mental illnesses, as this is a subject close to my heart,' she says.



MISS YORK
Anastasia Smith, 20

Height: 5'9''

Vitals: 34-26-34

Dress size: 10

Awarded a singing scholarship as a young girl, Anastasia currently works as a make up artist for Estee Lauder, though her passion is for horse-riding and she owns her own horse.

Anastasia enjoys cooking for family and friends, swimming - she has trained as a lifeguard - and loves learning languages, speaks some Latin.

An Army Cadet, she recently overcame blisters and harsh weather to complete a 25 mile trek across Dartmoor, carrying all her equipment on her back in a rucksack that, she says, was 'almost the size of myself with a pink barbie tiara swinging at the side,' and always she had her glittery make up bag to hand.

Having suffered severe asthma since a very young age, Anastasia - who is raising money for the Jane Tomlinson Appeal as well as Asthma UK - would like to raise awareness for charities that help those with the condition. 'I know how traumatic and scary it can be to suffer from asthma. I had a very difficult time in school.

'I would like to help children and teachers to understand better how to help asthma sufferers.'

As a make-up artist, Anastasia has also become involved with the charity 'Look Good Feel Better' in York hospital, an organisation that promotes the therapeutic benefits of make-up for chemotherapy patients.

Her ultimate ambition is to travel to Idaho, USA, to study at the Academy of Equine Dentistry, where she would like to qualify to practice as an Equine Dentist.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2016072/Meet-Miss-England-contestants-vying-make-world.html#ixzz1SUl2ej7J