Niki aims to take crown
A teenage Shropshire beauty queen will take on some of the country's most stunning women tonight as she bids to be crowned Miss England.
Miss Shrewsbury Niki Mullin will compete for the prestigious national title at the final in Leicester.
She is one of 91 contestants hoping for a chance to represent their country at the Miss World contest in China later this year.
The 16-year-old, from Market Drayton, was crowned Miss Shrewsbury in the regional heat for Miss England in March.
She is now hoping to take the national honour which is announced at a dinner in the Athena conference venue tonight.
Her mother Linda Mullin today urged people to text their votes for Niki to 84205 or go to www.missengland.info
As part of her challenge for the national title Niki went green earlier this month. She wore a vintage dress owned by her family to mark National Recycle week.
Tonight's final will have a Bollywood theme and will feature a judging panel from soaps Hollyoaks and Emmerdale.
It is the largest Miss England competition ever held.
Contestants have raised £25,000 for the charity Walk With Cancer, the most raised by the contest so far.
Tonight's entertainment will include an opportunity for the women to demonstrate their skills and the talent show will feature a diverse selection of acts including opera singing, flower arranging and fire-eating stilt-walking.
Favourite to win with odds of 10/1 from bookies Paddy Power is Miss Hertfordshire, Samantha Freedman.
The A-level student and certified diver says she is hoping to study art at university.
"I would like to travel to countries less fortunate than mine and help them with their poverty," she said.
