Day out leads to Girl's Night In for Miss Scotland contender!

Lucy Kerr was shortlisted as one of the lucky 13 finalists out of hundreds of hopefuls.

The news came as a complete surprise to the modest teenager.

But Lucy is now gearing up for various challenges to impress the judges at a black tie event in Glasgow’s Radisson Blu Hotel at the end of August.

The 19-year-old, from Bearsden, has just completed the first year of a Higher National Diploma at the City of Glasgow College, where she is studying beauty therapy.

Explaining how she was selected, Lucy said: “I was at the Girls’ Day Out in the SECC last November and was walking past one of the stalls.

“There was an application form for Miss Scotland and I thought it would be fun to apply.

“But I never thought for a second I’d get through to the final. It was truly unexpected.

“Many people have an old-fashioned view of these competitions. It has changed quite a bit though.

“There is now much more emphasis on the girls being ambassadors for their country and promoting all that is good about Scotland.”

One of the main challenges that all the contestants are set is to raise the profile of a charity of their choice.

Lucy has chosen to help raise awareness and funds for Autoimmune Alopecia Research UK because a colleague and good friend of hers has the condition.

Since June last year Lucy has had a part-time job working in customer service at Waitrose in Milngavie.

It was here that she met Alison Nicholson.

Lucy said: “I need to get as much support and publicity as possible for the charity because it is a condition not many people have heard about.

“Therefore, it has not attracted the same level of funding as other charities.

“I want to try to change that and raise the profile of Autoimmune Alopecia Research (UK)”

The former Douglas Academy pupil is hoping that people will rally and help her raise the charity’s profile.

To this end she has organised a Girl’s Night In next Friday, July 29, at St Andrew’s Church Hall in Bearsden.

“I feel this charity is a truly inspiring organisation and I want to bring as much help and support to it as I can,” said Lucy.

“I have lots of games, entertainment, a raffle and much more lined up to allow my guests to have a great night in.

“This is all to raise money and awareness for my chosen charity.

“Alison, who has the condition and works closely with the charity, will also be there with a presentation, explaining more about it.

“The aim is to raise awareness of the charity which was first founded in November 2012.

“I’d love people to come along to support the charity. There is an entry fee of £20 which will help raise badly needed funds for what is such a worthwhile cause.”

Lucy moved to Bearsden two years ago from Milngavie. Her family are really supportive of her latest endeavour – in particular, her proud parents Jill and Simon and her sisters Rachel (22) and Sophie (12) are ready to cheer her on!

A major part of being Miss Scotland is representing the country. Lucy is already no stranger to doing Scotland proud, having represented her country internationally in dance competitions globally for many years.

She is also a cheerleader at Champion Dance Cheerleaders in Clydebank.

She said: “I’ve been dancing since I was nine years old and taken part in international cheerleader championships in Orlando with my dance group. I’m also an assistant coach, which I really love doing.”

At the final, Lucy will have to impress a panel of judges, including international fashion guru and writer Janis-Sue Smith, who owns the Catwalk Academy.

While a little nervous, she sounds like she will take the contest in her stride.

“My family and friends are delighted and excited for me in equal measure and I’m really looking forward to it,” added Lucy.

“To me this competition is about beauty with a purpose and the beauty within, not just on the surface.”

Her fellow Miss Scotland finalists are Amy Meisak, Kayleigh Falls, Chiara Dalsasso, Paula Hasson, Rosalind Main, Celine Robertson, Taylor Wylie, Keryn Matthew, Nicole Ross, Katie Gibb, Katy McGlinchey and Holly Sutherland.