Date change a lucky one

THE new Miss Guernsey almost missed her chance of stardom. If the event had not been moved to the weekend, Hannah McLaughlin would have still been on holiday in Turkey.

'I would not have done it if they had not changed the dates because I was away and I would have missed it,' she said.

'I entered at the last minute and it was just by chance. I did not tell anybody else I was going to be in it.

'It's up there in the top five moments of my life - being local it does mean a lot to me.

'I like to promote Guernsey because I have been here all my life and it's a really big honour to have this opportunity.

'I want to be an ambassador for Guernsey - for the cool island it is.

'It's going to definitely change my outlook on how I see Guernsey.

'It should be good fun - it's a good opportunity for me and hopefully it will be a really good year. I'm looking forward to Strictly Come Dancing if I get invited to take part in that.

'I'm really pleased and it's fantastic that I have got a car 'a Renault Megane was the main prize' because I need one.'

Hannah was first competitor on the stage on Friday - many in the audience believed then that she would win the competition.

'I have really enjoyed it - especially the swimwear section - that was my favourite part. I just feel really confident in a bikini and the anticipation of going on is great fun,' she said.

She was impressed by all the other girls in the contest and insisted they all got on really well.

'They are a cracking bunch and there was no cattiness or bitching. The age range was so varied it was insane.'

Mum Gill was in the crowd to cheer her daughter along. Hannah said that, along with Cameron Diaz, her mum was her role model.

Hannah, 6ft tall in high heels, loves performing.

She has done fashion shows and photo shoots, and loves acting on stage and performing in musicals.

'I would love to be famous as an actress and would really like to teach sport and think I would do well in that.

'Realistically, I would like to teach sport in schools or clubs in Guernsey or the UK.'

The bad news for the boys is that she already has a boyfriend - talented young island cricketer Peter Le Hegarat.