Every once in a while I have to admit something good happens, on the eve of the millennium the world didn't end
and now I got to interview the newly crowned Miss Nottingham; Catherine Bosworth.
I was eager to speak to her to find out if there were brains to go with the beauty.
Unfortunately, due to me being slightly late, I had to mill around as every local paper in Notts snapped up her picture.
But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I got to speak to her closest aides in the meantime; her mum Niki and her boyfriend Stephen (and for anyone trying to take hope in the fact Catherine isn't married please dash all hopes as they've been together for a year and half). ------ So Niki you must have been really calming her down a lot before the big night?
Actually no, Catherine is really level headed, she takes everything in her stride and she was really just concentrating on having a good time.
Oh, well then you must have been very excited for her at least, what with getting to the final of Miss Nottingham and all.
Oh yes, of course. Not as nervous as the first time obviously but I suppose we knew a lot about what the competition would be like now.
The first time?
Yes, Catherine was a finalist in 2002. Ah
. (I started to wish I'd done a little research) so Stephen
this must have been very exciting for you, being the first time you got to support Catherine at this event cos you weren't going out with her in 2002 were you?
No I wasn't, but I was at the event last year when she also competed.
Oh
(really REALLY wish I'd done some research now) well how good did you think her chances were this year?
Stephen: Well she's come in second place the last two years running so we had high hopes again.
Niki, I bet you had a feeling it was gonna be her year cos she had a lot of fans out there.
Yes, a lot of people came out to support her, which we're really grateful for and I'm sure most of them were as proud as we were. ------ I felt quite sheepish at my lack of knowledge and thanked them for there time as I noticed that the pariah photographers had left Catherine alone for a moment, so I decided to sneak in a couple of questions. ------ First of all Catherine, congratulations.
Thank you.
Your family tell me this isn't the first time you've entered.
No, I was runner up for the last two years running, so I guess it was third time lucky.
 | | Miss Nottingham 2004 - Catherine Bosworth - 21 years old - 5'8" - Sales assistant in a store in the Victoria centre (you'll have to try all of them to find her) |
Did you have a feeling you were gonna win this time round? Half the auditorium seemed to be cheering for you
To be honest this year I thought I had less of a chance, the level of competition was so high.
(I nodded in agreement and a wry smile broke on to my face as in my head the word 'competition' changed to the word 'stunners'). So have you had any response to previous entrances to the competition?
I've been offered lots of modelling jobs through agencies, but I could never get the time off work to pursue them.
Is that going to be the case this time round?
No, I'm going to try and get my contracted hours at work reduced so I can dedicate more time to responsibilities and opportunities from being Miss Nottingham.
Where is it you work?
A store in the Victoria centre.
Oh I see, you don't wanna say in case everyone comes there to harass you
No, I don't mind it's
Woah Woah
sorry no advertising on the BBC! Last night, when asked on stage 'if you could be anyone, who would you be?' you said Victoria Beckham
dear god why?
Well, she's made herself very successful, she gets what she wants and she's put up with tons of unwarranted abuse - it shows how head strong and determined she is so I have a lot of respect for her.
Okay, but seriously
why?
Haha, I've been getting stick about that all morning, I suppose really I don't wanna be anyone else, I wanna be remembered in my own right, like some of the stellar super models such as Cindy Crawford and Elle Mcpherson, someone who sticks in history.
Now there's some good choices (out came that wry smile again). So what do you think to people who say beauty contests are dated and dumbed down?
It's an unfounded argument really, the "I want peace in all the world" bimbo version of beauty contests just doesn't hold true. Neither are they the bikini fests they used to be. Now contestants can choose to reveal as much or as little as they want. It's an aesthetic contest, that's true, but there's a lot more individual choice in all aspects of the competition.
Good answer, I would have just said people who say that are ugly and jealous. What about people who say its sexist?
They obviously haven't heard of the Mr. UK competitions.
Touché! ------  | | Miss Nottingham 2004 with her crown |
------ I was more than satisfied with Catherine's answers and was sure that the Miss Nottingham accolade was in safe hands although I had forgotten to ask what it was exactly Miss Nottingham was supposed to do.
Never the less, the competition had been well received and Catherine was a graceful winner.
I'm off to see if there are any other soon to be beauty queens to be found in the Victoria Centre and also to find out what aesthetic means. | 
