News from the Miss Wales organisation
Miss Wales comes second in Miss World!
Miss Wales 2012, Sophie Moulds, has taken second place at the Miss World final!
Nineteen-year-old Sophie from Ferndale in the Rhondda Valley is the highest placing British contestant in the international beauty pageant since the 1980s.
The overall winner was Wenxia Xu from China.
Sophie came third in the interview round; took a top 10 place in Beauty With A Purpose; and won the beach fashion fast-track round to find herself in the top group.
View pictures from Sophie's year.
She said: “I’ve had the time of my life. It was an experience I’ll never forget. I hope I’ve done Wales proud and really want to encourage other Welsh girls to give it a go.”
Paula Abbandonato, organiser of Miss Wales, said: “I’ve always believed that Welsh girls can do really well at Miss World and Sophie has proved it. She’s worked hard and has been really focused throughout. Now we’re really looking forward to what the rest of the year has in store for her – and we’re really looking forward to seeing other young women enter the pageant who have been inspired by Sophie’s success.”
Sophie’s achievement means she now carries the titles Miss UK 2012 and Miss World Europe 2012. Sophie will travel the globe now with the Miss World organisation with her principle role being an ambassador for Beauty With A Purpose.
Sophie Moulds is the new Miss Wales
Nineteen year old Sophie Moulds from Ferndale in Rhondda Cynon Taff has been crowned Miss Wales 2012.
The 5’ 10” business student is in her first year at Cardiff University and will now go on to represent Wales at Miss World in Mongolia this summer.
Sophie was one of 47 young women from across Wales to compete for the title at St David’s Hall.
The final night was the culmination of an intensive three-day programme for the women. On day one, the contestants all took part in the Miss Wales Empowerment Day with a leading life coach. The aim of the day was to grow the self-esteem and confidence of the young women involved and to encourage them to make a difference in their own lives and to the lives of others around them.
Day two involved intensive rehearsals and the Miss Wales charity ball, while day three saw the women take part in an interview with the judges and two catwalk rounds.
Sophie said: “I am so pleased to win and I’m really looking forward to going to Miss World. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my friends, family and sponsor. I hope that through my year I can inspire other young girls in the valleys to aim high and chase their dreams.”
Paula Abbandonato, director of Miss Wales, said: “Sophie is a natural beauty. I am delighted she will be representing Wales and we’ll be supporting her all the way.”
The runners up were 17 year old Theresa Ashley from Cardiff who came second and 19 year old Alice Ford, also from Cardiff, who came third.
Amy Nell from Carmarthen and Gabrielle Shaw from Wrexham also placed in the top five.
Other winners were:
- Best Hair, sponsored by Vision Hair - Charlotte Williams from Pembroke
- Miss Charity, awarded by The Joshua Foundation – Rebecca Williams from Neath
- Public Vote Winner – Danielle Woolcock from Neath
- Spirit of Miss Wales - Eloise Witcombe
Pocket-sized Sara is the new Miss Wales
Pocket-sized Sara Manchipp from Baglan has been crowned Miss Wales 2011 and will now go on to represent Wales at Miss World later this year.
5'3" Sara was chosen by a panel of 11 judges including four former Miss Wales winners (Claire Evans who was Miss Wales 2005, Sarah Fleming who won in 2006; Miss Wales 2008 Chloe-Beth Morgan and Lucy Whitehouse from 2009). X-Factor's Rhydian Roberts and Welsh soprano Rebecca Evans also joined the panel.
The event was sponsored by Wales leading supplier of evening wear and promwear Dress-Stop.com in Cardiff, Vision Hair Design in Neath and Su-Do Professional Tanning.
Sara, who was born two months premature and who weighed 2lb 11 oz at birth, beat 54 young women who took to the stage in front of a sell out crowd at Cardiff's St David's Hall.
21-year-old Welsh-speaker Sara studied at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, and has a conditional offer to study Psychology and Counselling at Swansea Metropolitan University.
Sara will now compete at in the 60th Miss World pageant in London in October and November.
She said: "It was lovely surprise to win Miss Wales. The feeling is incomprehensible. I am most looking forward to meeting the Miss World contestants in London and doing work for good causes."
Paula Abbandonato, from events company Vibe is the organiser of Miss Wales. She said: "Sara is pocket- sized and full of charm. She is a wonderful young woman who we are thrilled to see represent Wales. With the Miss World finals in the UK for the first time in years, the British contestants are going to receive a lot of interest. I am sure Sara will rise to the occasion and have the time of her life."
Second in the competition was 19-year-old promotional model Sophie Hall from Abercarn, and third was 20-year-old student Alice Watkins from Cardiff.
Other winners were:
- Public Vote Winner - Rhiannon Shopland, Aberdare
- Miss Charity - Jenny Dobson, from Neath, who raised over £9,000 for The Joshua Foundation
- Spirit of Miss Wales - Stephanie Lubbock, from Porthcawl, who used her position as Miss Bridgend to raise awareness of a charity called New Pathways, which gave her support following a sexual attack
- Best Dressed (sponsored by Dress-Stop.com) - Bianca Cridland, Swansea
- Best Hair (sponsored by Vision Hair Design, Neath) - Laura Curtis, Cwmbran
- Miss Ceredigion 2011 - Chemise Isaac, New Quay
- Miss Powys 2011 - Laura Dwyer, Llangynidr
As part of the Miss World ethos of Beauty with A Purpose, the Miss and Mister Wales contestants raised almost £90,000 for the competition's chosen charity, The Joshua Foundation, which provides life experiences for children with cancer and their families.
The Miss and Mister Wales final this weekend was the biggest in history with more contestants taking part than ever before. The three-day event also involved a charity ball and an empowerment day, which saw all the contestants walk barefoot over burning hot coals.
Applications are now open for next year's competitions »
Here are the highlights in pictures…
Miss Wales finalists walk on fire
The finalists of Miss Wales 2011 will walk barefoot over hot coals this year as part of the three-day grand final, which will culminate in the crowning of the new Miss Wales.
The women – all chosen from 22 local authority heats across the country – will take the barefoot walk during an empowerment day just two days before the crowning ceremony.
Leading the firewalk will be life coach Tosin Ogunnussi who has been brought in by event organisers Vibe. Tosin will be using the experiences, including the firewalk and a board-breaking seminar, as a metaphor for self-belief.
Paula Abbandonato, of Vibe, said: “Our main aim through the Miss Wales competition is to empower young women to reach for their goals. Walking the catwalk is hard enough, but this year we will be adding a barefoot walk over hot coals in to their Miss Wales experience.”
A number of the contestants will be using the firewalk as a fundraiser for the competition’s chosen charity, The Joshua Foundation. In recent years, the competition has raised more than £300,000 for the cause, which provides holidays and experiences for children with cancer and their families.
The motivational day will take place at the Park Inn in Cardiff on Thursday 30 June; and the following day the contestants will be guests at the Miss & Mister Wales charity ball at the Holland House Hotel. Miss Wales 2011 will be crowned at the grand final on Saturday 2 July at St David’s Hall. She will then go on to represent Wales at Miss World later in the year.
Paula added: “The three day event is going to be quite a marathon. While only one girl will walk away with the crown, we hope that all the others who take part will get a lot out of the experience.”
The reigning Miss Wales is 21-year-old, Courtenay Hamilton, from St Donat’s in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The Miss Wales Grand Final 2010
The Miss Wales 2010 Grand Final was a wonderful evening – never has St David’s Hall in Cardiff looked so good.
Courtenay Hamilton won the title with the two runners up being Summer Ghanavati from Cardiff who came second and Jamie Lee Williams from Llanmynych who was third. The competition was sponsored by Wales leading supplier of evening wear and promwear – Dress Stop.com.
Event organiser, Paula Abbandonato of Vibe, said: “Once again, we have a fantastic winner taking the Miss Wales title. I hope Courtenay enjoys the year ahead, make the most of every opportunity offered to her and continues to do her best for The Joshua Foundation.”
As part of her prize, Courtenay will enjoy a number of overseas visits with the charity including going to Lapland at Christmas and Australia in the summer of 2011.
Other winners were:
- Spirit of Miss Wales - Michelle Chamberlain
- Beauty with A Purpose - Anna Murphy
- Best Hair, sponsored by The Hair Business - Alize Mounter
- Best Dressed, sponsored by Dress-Stop.com - Sophie Webster
- Public Vote Winner - Rebecca Hearne
The Miss and Mister Wales competitions have grown to such a size in recent years, that now regional heats are being run as qualifiers in every local authority area in Wales. This year the competitions generated nearly £70,000 for The Joshua Foundation.
Here are the highlights in pictures…
March 2010
Miss Merthyr Tydfil Makes TV
One of the Miss Wales 2010 regional qualifiers – Miss Merthyr Tydfil - was the subject of a BBC documentary this month as part of the Planet Wales series.
The programme followed the competition and a number of the contestants and also talked to ladies who had won beauty pageants in the town back in the 1950s and 1960s.
Paula Abbandonato, Miss Wales organiser, said: “I’d like to congratulate all our Miss Merthyr Tydfil 2010 finalists for taking part in the programme. They came across as interesting, ambitious young women who want to make a difference and have fun, which is exactly what the Miss Wales experience is all about.
“We’ve had terrific feedback from all corners of the country since the programme was broadcast and would like to thank the programme makers for the story they helped us tell.”
2 November 2009
A win for Miss Wales
The Miss Wales competition has been named the ‘best event’ in Wales in 2009 by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
The Vibe team – organisers of Miss Wales – took the accolade at the CIPR Pride Awards - the most prestigious occasion in the Welsh PR calendar.
Paula Abbandonato, of Vibe, said: "The Miss Wales competition is our pride and joy. We put an incredible amount of effort into the contest and have been overwhelmed by the support we receive every year from the contestants, their families and the media.
"To be recognised as the best event in the country is an incredible achievement and pays testimony to all the wonderful women we meet along the way."
This year, the Miss Wales competition raised £120,000 for its chosen charity – The Joshua Foundation – which gives life experiences to children with cancer.
Paula added: "The pressure is now on to continue to make the Miss Wales event a fantastic experience for all involved. I have no doubt that it will continue to go from strength to strength."
5 October 2009
Lucy looking good in swimwear for Miss World
Miss Wales, Lucy Whitehouse, has picked up a series of swimwear, which will see her dazzle at Miss World this autumn.
The 21-year-old Barry nurse was gifted the outfits by leading online retailer of luxury swimwear, Sandstorm Boutique. The company which has offices in Mumbles (South Wales) and Bedford is run by young entrepreneur, Naomi John.
With a cool five bikinis and swimsuits courtesy of Sandstorm, Lucy is hoping to catch the eye of the Miss World judges in South Africa next month.
She said: “To stand out at Miss World means being the best and having the best. These bikinis are beautiful and so different to anything I have ever seen before. I love them!”
For Sandstorm Boutique, the opportunity to team up with the Miss Wales competition was too good to miss. "We are very happy to be associated with such a great competition," said Naomi.
"We are also looking forward to working with Lucy. She is a beautiful girl and we are delighted to come on board as the official swimwear sponsor of Miss Wales."
During the recent photo session attended by Lili John, Marketing Director for Sandstorm Boutique, Lili said: “Lucy looks amazing in the pictures of her in our bikinis, I think that she’s going to look as good as anyone on the Miss World stage.”
