by Phil Coleman

Last updated at 12:29, Monday, 26 November 2012

She is one of a handful of head-turning entrants from Carlisle to have reached the final of this year’s Miss Cumbria contest.

Emily Hudson-Harris with, from left, Mike Wills, Stephen Elliott and Matthew Camerson

But Emily Hudson-Harris knows that there’s a lot more to impressing the judges than just looking good.

You have to prove you know how to make a positive impression – and working hard to raise cash for a good cause comes naturally to 20-year-old Emily, who ran her own beauty salon for two years.

She has now teamed up with a band of Carlisle firefighters to raise cash for the Children’s Variety Club of Great Britain – though the fire crews who took part in her fundraiser gave their half of the funds raised to the Firefighters Charity.

Helped by her family, she and the firefighters raised money at the city’s Eastern Way fire HQ with a sponsored car wash.

“It was hard work and very cold, but I was happy to do it because getting this far in the competition is a fantastic opportunity,” said Emily, who now works at Bronze Salon in Brook Street, Carlisle.

“I’ve been modelling now for about three years. It’s something I wanted to do from being a little girl. When I was 16, I went to a private beauty school in Manchester and that’s where I learned all about the beauty business. When I was 18 I opened my own salon in Port Road, and really enjoyed it. I did it for two years until the lease was up.

“It would be amazing if I could represent Cumbria: you have to be an ambassador for our county, and that’s something I’d love to do. It’s a beautiful place.”

Miss Cumbria will go on to represent the county in Miss England.

So far, Emily has raised around £700. She thanked her parents for all their help. Mary Hudson-Harris and Bruce Harris, who daringly took on the role of a blue-faced Smurf during a recent fundraising pub crawl.

To support Emily text MISS CU12 to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus standard network charges.

First published at 12:27, Monday, 26 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk