Celebrations as Laura wins Miss Durham competition (From The Northern Echo)

Celebrations as Laura wins Miss Durham competition

3:03am Monday 12th May 2008

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A HALF-BRAZILIAN business administrator has lifted the title in the fifth annual Miss Durham competition.

Laura Azevedo, 19, from Hartlepool, beat 20 other girls in the final held at Sedgefield Racecourse on Saturday night.

Miss Azevedo will now go on to represent the county in the Miss England competition in London, on July 18.

Second place at Miss Durham went to Samantha Osbourne, 20, from Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, and third was Jessica Saint, 19, from Aycliffe Village, County Durham.

Speaking shortly after being handed the title by last year's winner, Verity Walker, 19, from Darlington, Miss Azevedo said she was thrilled to win.

"They were all just such great girls. I'm stunned to have won it," she said.

"It would have been really nice just to take part and get to meet everyone, so to win it is amazing.

"I've tried to just take it in my stride and not take it too seriously and I would have been happy for any of the girls to win, but obviously I'm pleased it was me."

Miss Azevedo, a modern apprentice with Hartlepool Borough Council, said she was cheered on by her family, friends and colleagues at the council.

For the first time this year, the event was held as a separate event, rather than on a race day.

The 20 finalists arrived at the racecourse at about 10.30am for what Miss Azevedo said was a "fun but tiring" day of rehearsals and fittings.

After three catwalk-style rounds, including the traditional evening wear section, and the final interview round, Miss Azevedo, was crowned - 13 hours later.

Simon Robertson, from One Voice Production Limited, compered the event.

He said: "It was a great atmosphere all night and all the girls were getting on great and not at all catty as you might expect, which is great to see.

"I compered Miss Newcastle recently and it was a brunette who won that too, so perhaps the blondes are out at the moment. Perhaps it'll be their turn next year."

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