Bridport: Beauty model Sam Smith aims to become Miss Dorset... and then Miss England (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Bridport: Beauty model Sam Smith aims to become Miss Dorset... and then Miss England

9:00am Thursday 19th April 2012 in News By Rene Gerryts

A Bridport girl is in the running for Miss Dorset vying with 28 other hopefuls.

Model Samantha Smith, 22, will be gracing the catwalk on April 21 at Banus in Weymouth for a chance at the title – which means she would have an automatic place in the Miss England final.

Samantha said she would love to represent the county of her birth.

Samantha has lived in Bridport all her life going to Bridport Primary, then the Sir John Colfox School where she did her diploma in child care.

She said: “It was my dream as a little girl but I didn’t think very much of it but it was my mum who saw an advert in the paper three or four years ago saying models needed for a test shoot.

“That was when I first got signed by an agency and that gave me confidence to do it and from there on it has gone from strength to strength.

“Modelling is what I want to do as a career and it would mean everything to me to represent the county.”

There are three awards up for grabs on the night – Miss Dorset, Miss Charity Fundraiser and Miss Popularity judged by public vote. As well as being judged on their looks the contestants have to raise money for charity and Samantha has been busy baking and selling cakes around town and is organising two raffles.

One is a private one where the winner gets Samantha cooking a meal for two in their home, waiting and clearing up afterwards and one is for businesses which for a £10 a ticket the winning firm gets her modelling services to use how they want to promote themselves.

Samantha is no stranger to fundraising having done a skydive to raise money for the Young Minds charity in memory of her cousin James Thorner and step-sister Tasmin Dalton following their tragic suicides within months of each other.

The Young Minds charity offers help and support to young people who suffer from mental health illnesses but also helps their carers and families.