Morton student plans to be model of hope as next face of Lincolnshire

Annabelle Potts (21) is one of 12 beauties anxiously waiting to see if they are to take over the title currently held by Alexandra Mount (19) of Cowbit.

A public vote will help decide Annabelle’s destiny when she and the other finalists meet at Scalford Hall Hotel, Melton Mowbray, on May 20 when the next Miss GB Lincolnshire will be revealed.

Annabelle said: “I’ve always been someone who has wanted to be head girl, student prefect or an ambassador for other students.

“I want to be someone who people look up to, especially girls for whom beauty is a massive thing.

“My journey to becoming Miss GB Lincolnshire started when I applied online for Miss England and went to Leicester to do a catwalk and photo shoot.

“One of the ladies there said ‘we want you to be one of the 12 girls in the final of Miss Lincolnshire’ and then I spent a whole day with Miss Rutland, as well as a number of other girls who I joined for a photo shoot and engagement day when I got to know everyone.”

Annabelle, a business, advertising and marketing student at Lincoln University, lived in Morton for about ten years where she joined the village’s Girl Guides while attending Bourne Westfield Primary Academy.

She then moved to Rippingale with her family and started her secondary education at the former Aveland High School in Billingborough before its closure in July 2012.

Annabelle said: “I did my GCSEs and A-levels at Bourne Academy before working at the Co-op in Billingborough for a year to save up and go to university.

“The reason I chose my degree course was because I absolutely love watching TV adverts to do with food and I’m interested in consumer behaviour.”

Annabelle has also committed herself to fundraising for four charities in an effort to impress Miss GB Lincolnshire judges.

The charities include Help for Heroes in support of her father who was an RAF serviceman and Cancer Research UK in memory of her grandmother who died of cancer when Annabelle was just two.

“I was her first grandchild and I know she would have been absolutely delighted that I’m doing Miss GB Lincolnshire,” Annabelle said.

“I’m looking to raise at least £200 to share between the four charities and I’m organising a raffle for which shops I went to in Lincoln have donated prizes.

“I didn’t want to just send an email to them because it doesn’t look good and doesn’t reflect how passionate I am about Miss GB Lincolnshire.

“When I went to the shops, I explained what I was doing, why I was doing it and what my girls were.

“I didn’t just walk in with a poster but with my sense of humour and personality as well.”

Should Annabelle become Miss Lincolnshire, she will go through to the Miss Great Britain final at the Athena Leicester conference and banqueting centre on September 23.

The winner of the Miss Linconshire title will also wear a tiara, sash, receive flowers, a fashion voucher and bag, photo shoot and invitations to make guest appearances around the county.

Annabelle said: “I’m trying to get my face and name out there because I can’t go for the Miss Lincolnshire title without it.”

Beauty pageant dreams for Cowbit teenager Alex

Halloween is a dream for Cowbit beauty queen Alexandra