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Sinead Burns & Laura Mellor
Mother power won the day at the latest heats of the Open+Direct Miss Northern Ireland competition.
Two of the finalists have revealed they knew nothing about their shot at the title until their mums told them they'd been signed up. New Miss Omagh Sinead Burns says mum Claire Bridge told her she'd applied on behalf of a cousin.
But four days before the Miss Sally's heat Claire admitted it was Sinead who would be impressing the judges. "I've always had an interest in modelling but I'd look at other models and think I'd never compare to them," says the 17-yearold, an AS level student at Sacred Heart College in Omagh.
"At first mum said she'd applied for a cousin and then she said it was me.When I won she was in tears and then it was announced at assembly so it's lovely to have the whole school behind me.
"It just shows you should always trust your mum." The Tyrone heat also produced winner Laura Mellor the new Miss Sally's.
The fashion mad Portora Royal student tried her hand at Top Model UK two years ago and made it to the final, but a family bereavement meant she had to miss the London event and she decided to concentrate on school instead.
"I've always followed the competition but I never expected to get this far," says Laura, 18. "I'm from a small village outside Enniskillen so I'd also love to represent it."
The two new finalists were chosen by a judging panel which included current Miss Northern Ireland Tiffany Brien, Open+Direct's Nuala Kealey, Joleen Stewarts from organisers ACA, Claire McGlone from Sally's, model Rosie Boyle and former winner Mary McCartney.
Tiffany was also on duty at the Pretty Mary's heat where new Miss Moira Jennifer Locke revealed she had some mum muscle behind her too. The 19-year-old took part in the first heat at Café Vaudeville when mum Jacqueline told her the day before that she'd fill in an application for her.
"I also tried the Galgorm heat and my mum encouraged me to try one more so I went to the Moira heat. I loved doing it anyway and each one built my confidence. I was going to give up so I'm so glad I listened to my mum. "I love following the competition; it just looks so glamorous and it opens so many doors to represent Northern Ireland," says Jennifer.
For trainee dental nurse Jade Topping determination also paid off. The new Miss Pretty Mary's succeeded at her sixth heat and has now booked her place in the final.
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"I couldn't believe it when I got there. It's was my first time doing anything like this but it's important in life to set yourself goals and targets. "A teacher used to encourage me to trying modelling so I got photos done and applied to ACA and they asked if I wanted to try out for Miss Northern Ireland.
"After the first few heats I got more confident and it was worth it to keep trying," says Jade. She's a committed volunteer with Age NI and a leader in the Girls Brigade and says she'd love the chance to be an ambassador for Northern Ireland.
The Moira finalists were chosen by expert Alison Clarke, the competition organiser, aided by Ashley Anderson from Pretty Marys, Dan Gillespie from Open+Direct and former winner Angela Mountstephens.
Next week we'll bring you the winners from the last two heats before the countdown begins for the final. It's one of the biggest nights of the year when the new Miss Northern Ireland will win a chance to take part in Miss World in Indonesia, a host of prizes and the life-changing title.