Little Earnock woman in Miss Universe regional final

Feb 11 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON hopeful has also reached the Glasgow finals of this year’s Miss Universe competition.

Twenty-one-year-old Charlene McMeekin, from Little Earnock, will be facing off against 19 other hopefuls at the event in Glasgow on February 27.

She told the Advertiser this week that her friend, a beautician, had convinced her to enter the contest following a bad break-up.

She said: “I was a bit low after breaking up with my boyfriend. It had been pretty sudden, and it hit my confidence.

“But my friend came over and told me to enter this competition. She does presenting as well, and she said her friend was a judge in the contest.

“I honestly didn’t think it was my thing, but I just sent a picture in to see how it went.

“Then I got a letter inviting me to the semi-final.

“I had an interview with the judges on January 19, and they decided to put me through to the final 20 for Glasgow.

“I was amazed.”

First prize in the Miss Universe Glasgow final is a modelling contract and a place in the finals for Miss Universe in Great Britain.

However, the girls who come second and third will also win a place in the national final, which takes place in Birmingham on May 2.

The competition is the first time Charlene, who works in a call centre for mobile phone company 3, has entered a beauty contest, but she told the Advertiser that she hopes it will not be the last.

Charlene, who went to Rutherglen’s Stonelaw High, explained: “At the moment, I’m a little bit nervous about it. There are 20 of us, and we’ll all be in front of a live audience, so you can only imagine what it will be like.

“This is my first time in this kind of competition, and my first time on stage.

“My mum told me that it’s a great achievement to get this far.

“She said don’t hope for the best, but don’t fear the worst either.

“This contest is good for the girls, as the winner gets a modelling contract.

“However, I’m already looking at entering future competitions, as this is a step in the right direction.

“Even if I don’t win this, it has given me a lot of confidence, and I’ll be putting myself forward for others in the near future, I think, such as Miss Scotland and Miss Earth.”

To vote for Charlene, call 09016561571 then enter 13.

Alternatively, voters can text Charlene McMeekin to 84205.

For more info, visit www.missuniversescot.co.uk.