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Miss Belfast Leanna Owens and Miss 21Social Hannah Wasson
The first Miss Northern Ireland heat kicked off with 21 hopefuls at 21Social.
The Belfast nightclub was bursting with beauties in the 2014 search for a successor to Meagan Green.
And the first night of the competition, sponsored by The Sunday World and Open+Direct, produced new Miss Belfast Leanna Owens and Miss 21 Social Hannah Wasson.
It was the first time on the runway for both winners but 18-year-old student Hannah says she could get used to it.
“I would love to go and do it all again. I was really nervous but once you’re on that red carpet it all goes,” says the young Shankill Road woman.
She’s a student at Belfast Metropolitan College where she’s honed her healing hands on a body and spa treatment course.
After two years of hands on experience Hannah, who also works part time in Hollister, is already in demand.
“I love helping people with their sore muscles and aches and pains. We have open clinics at college where people can come in for massages so I’ve learned to use my healing hands,” she says.
Hannah was scouted for the competition in her favourite shop, which may be her lucky charm.
“I was in Top Shop a few weeks ago when I was asked if I was interested in taking part in the competition. The same thing happened with my job in Hollister. I was in Top Shop when I got approached to do an interview and that’s how I started working there.”
The 18-year-old now plans to add modelling to her CV, but she has more experience on the other side of the camera.
Hannah is already an award-winning photographer, picking up a prize from Belfast City Council for her snaps of metal trees in Woodvale Park.
“I love anything wacky from architecture to animals. If I have free time, which is not that often now, I love getting out with my camera just to take pictures of anything that catches my eye.”
Fellow winner Leanna Owens caught the eye of the judging panel too, carrying off the Miss Belfast title, which made a childhood dream come true.
The 19-year-old is studying to become a religion teacher at St Mary’s University College in Belfast.
But besides her teaching vocation she’s also harboured a desire to model.
“I’ve never done any modelling but when I was younger I was always doing my own catwalk shows at home, just playing about.
“My mum Kathleen was always interested in that world because of the confidence it gives you and she thought it would be good for me.”
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Miss Northern Ireland Belfast heat gets under way in 21 social in Belfast. Pictured are Kaci McDowell, Sarah Anne Mawhinney, Sorcha Conlon, Orlaith Boylan, Leanna Owens and Hannah Wasson with Claire McErlean.
Despite her secret dream Leanna had concentrated on her academic side until she was scouted last month.
“I was always interested in the competition but I had no plans to take part until I was approached by scouts in February and a couple of weeks later I was in the first heat.
“I could not believe it. I was so nervous the whole night, with all these girls who were so confident. I felt like I had messed it up and when I was talking I was so flustered I thought I’d really messed it up, so I was so happy to win,” says the finalist.
The two winners were chosen by a panel including current Miss Northern Ireland Meagan Green, Open+Direct’s John Laverty, Aileen Wilson from bridal boutique Blush, Alison Clarke from ACA, Neil Stewart from 21 Social, Michelle International’s Denise McCluskey and make up artist Paddy McGurgan.
Compere Pete Snodden from Cool FM kept the entertainment coming and Paddy and Denise shared some trade secrets, transforming Meagan, and last year’s runners up Emma Ward and Anna Henry with three key looks.
The next heat takes place in Spice in Antrim tonight and they run until April 27, before the May final.
For details of how to enter and prizes, including a trip to Miss World, go to www.missnorthernireland.co.uk.