A LOCAL lovely has made it into the finals of one of Britain's biggest beauty contests which may lead to a much coveted place in the 1999 Miss UK finals.

Sarah Clark, of Willows Avenue, Lytham, entered the Miss Take A Break competition after much cajoling from friends and family. Thanks to their persuasion the 17-year-old has been short-listed from 4,000 other hopefuls who sent in their photographs to the weekly magazine.

As she rather shyly admitted: "It was my friend who wanted us both to enter, so we did and enjoyed a great time in Leeds being photographed and interviewed at the initial entry stage.

"We both got into the final 400 and when I got home from my holiday in Magaluf there was another letter waiting for me, saying I had been chosen as one of the final 36.

"It was a nice surprise to come home to."

The former Lytham St Annes High School pupil has always loved acting and dancing. Following her heart she has enrolled at the Performing Arts College on Palatine Road.

Her ambition is to be a professional dancer or model, and getting even this far in the competition has given her the enthusiasm to follow her dream.

She admitted: "Modelling is something I have always wanted to do and this has spurred me on and given me much more confidence in myself and my abilities."

Chairman of the judging panel and magazine director John Hopkins commenting on the final, said: "It was a very difficult choice.

"There were 4,000 entrants which made it the biggest beauty contest ever held in this country - at least in the last 30 years.

"We were seeking girls who radiate a personality through their looks.

"Of course appearance is important, but equally important is the way these features combine to form a warm, attractive, friendly personality."

Sarah is currently nervously waiting to hear whether she reaches the final five contestants.

The overall winner will go into the Miss UK final at the end of this month, the winner of which will be entered into Miss World 1999 in December.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.