TEENAGE songstress Natasha Hemmings is looking forward to representing her country in the Far East after being crowned Miss England.
The 19-year-old followed up her victory in last month's Miss Cheshire pageant by taking the national title ahead of 51 of her fellow beauty queens.
And she is now preparing to compete in the Miss World contest in Sanya, China in December, where she will be aiming to become the first English winner in more than 30 years.
The former Newcastle-under-Lyme School pupil is a trained classical singer, which came in handy during the competition's talent round.
But she was stunned when she was announced the winner at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
Natasha, from Wychwood Park, near Crewe, said: "I was in complete shock when they said that I had won.
"There were 52 girls competing from all over the country and everyone was so good. I never thought that I would be the winner."
Natasha, who attended the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music when she was 14, sang Oh Mio Babbino Caro, from Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi, during the talent round of the competition.
Another phase of the contest saw the finalists modelling dresses they had made themselves out of recycled materials.
Natasha added: "There was a James Bond theme, so I used an old choir dress and sewed pennies onto it to represent Miss Moneypenny. This money will be donated to Beauty with a Purpose, which is the Miss World charity.
"I think beauty pageants like Miss England do still have role. They allow women to showcase their talents and be positive role models."
Along with the Miss England crown and title, Natasha has won a prizes worth around £30,000, including a luxury holiday to Sri Lanka.
Natasha, who is studying English literature at the University of Nottingham, is now getting ready to represent England at the Miss World pageant.
She said: "I'm very excited about going to Miss World in China, it's a great honour to be able to represent England. I am nervous about it but I think that since I competed in Miss Cheshire my confidence has grown massively.
"I've never been to China before so I'm very excited about that. I'll be over there for three weeks so hopefully I'll get a chance to see some of the country."
Proud mum Kirston corr Hemmings said: "We're all very proud of what Natasha has done. She's the first Miss England from the North West in seven years, and the first from Cheshire in 30 years.
"While Natasha was a very bubbly little girl, she did become quieter when she was a teenager. But I think competing at Miss Cheshire has really helped her become more confident.
The last British winner of Miss World was Sarah-Jane Hutt in 1983.
Natasha, from Wychwood Park, near Crewe, said: "I was in complete shock when they said that I had won.
"There were 52 girls competing from all over the country and everyone was so good. I never thought that I would be the winner."
Natasha, who attended the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music when she was 14, sang Oh Mio Babbino Caro, from Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi, during the talent round of the competition.
Another phase of the contest saw the finalists modelling dresses they had made themselves out of recycled materials.
Natasha added: "There was a James Bond theme, so I used an old choir dress and sewed pennies onto it to represent Miss Moneypenny. This money will be donated to Beauty with a Purpose, which is the Miss World charity.
"I think beauty pageants like Miss England do still have role. They allow women to showcase their talents and be positive role models."
Along with the Miss England crown and title, Natasha has won a prizes worth around £30,000, including a luxury holiday to Sri Lanka.
Natasha, who is studying English literature at the University of Nottingham, is now getting ready to represent England at the Miss World pageant.
She said: "I'm very excited about going to Miss World in China, it's a great honour to be able to represent England. I am nervous about it but I think that since I competed in Miss Cheshire my confidence has grown massively.
"I've never been to China before so I'm very excited about that. I'll be over there for three weeks so hopefully I'll get a chance to see some of the country."
Proud mum Kirston corr Hemmings said: "We're all very proud of what Natasha has done. She's the first Miss England from the North West in seven years, and the first from Cheshire in 30 years.
"While Natasha was a very bubbly little girl, she did become quieter when she was a teenager. But I think competing at Miss Cheshire has really helped her become more confident.
The last British winner of Miss World was Sarah-Jane Hutt in 1983.
