AN ASPIRING catwalk queen has missed out in her bid to take the crown at a top modelling competition but is still in with a chance of being entered for England’s biggest beauty pageant.

Laura Kerwood, of Beggarwood, Basingstoke, is not disheartened at failing to bag the Miss Every Model magazine competition as she managed to pick up most of the public text votes.

Despite Laura, a beauty therapist in Charter Alley, securing 726 text votes, judges decided to award 22-year-old Army corporal Katrina Hodge the top honour in the final at the Haycock Hotel in Wansford.

The result means Laura will have her portfolio put before a panel of judges, who will decide whether to enter her into next year’s Miss England semi-final.

Laura, 23, said: “Apparently, this is one of the toughest pageants there is so I’m thrilled to have won the public’s vote.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t mean I took the crown on the night.

“This is my first big pageant and I really enjoyed it. The group of girls I was with were really nice and friendly.”

Laura paraded down a catwalk in a bikini before an evening gown round and then was allowed to choose an outfit that would make her stand out from the other contestants.

She chose her dress from her 21st birthday.

She said: “I thought it would be different because with the current climate it’s best to recycle, so I was hoping to encourage that.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to all the people who voted for me. It was brilliant to represent Basingstoke and I look forward to doing it again.”