A CLACKMANNAN woman is gearing up to represent the Wee County in a beauty pageant early in the New Year.

Nicola Allan (27) has been chosen as Miss Clackmannanshire Galaxy and will compete in the finals of the Miss Galaxy Pageant on Friday 6 February.

She told the Advertiser: “I feel excited and nervous but I’m over the moon to have reached the finals, because who would have thought I would get chosen to represent Clackmannanshire for the Miss Galaxy competition.

“I was interested in taking part in the event because it’s not just any girl they let into the finals. There are thousands that apply for this and maybe only 50 get through to the finals and if I win this I go on to represent Miss Scotland internationally and I also get a modelling contract in the USA.” Nicola – who is in the process of leaving the army, where she spent four years in the RLC regiment as a communications specialist and driver – is looking forward to getting glammed up for a change and the opportunity to meet other girls who are competing.

As part of her involvement in the pageant, she plans to raise money for Cancer Research UK by taking on a daunting skydive.

She explained: “Fundraising is a big part of any pageant and I wanted to do a skydive because I wanted to challenge myself. I’m not too keen on heights, I’ve never done anything like this before and I want to get as much money as I can for my charity.

“I picked Cancer Research UK because my gran had breast cancer and my gran and grandad both mean the world to me, and when I found out my gran had this I felt helpless.

“I think we need to all put as much money as we can into Cancer Research UK to help get better treatments, or help support the families who are going through cancer. This is a charity close to my heart.” Nicola – who is working towards opening her own hairdressing salon in Alloa, Nico’s Salon – is hoping the contest will be the first of many.

She said: “I hope in the long run I can enter more beauty pageants, go on to win some and get chosen to represent Miss Scotland in international beauty pageants.”