By Thom Kennedy

Last updated at 12:03, Wednesday, 30 June 2010

A Miss Cumbria finalist hopes to turn some heads – and empty some wallets – when she takes a walk through Carlisle in only her bikini today.

• Video: Natasha Lawrence in Carlisle

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Natasha Lawrence, 17, hopes to raise money for the Variety Club, the designated charity of the Miss Cumbria competition.

And after raising most of the necessary £250 each through cake sales and the like, she is hoping to top off her efforts ahead of the annual beauty pageant this weekend by walking through the city centre in her bikini this afternoon.

Beauty therapy student Natasha, who lives in Upperby, said: “I thought it would be something a bit different.

“People have been climbing mountains and things like that, and I thought I would make it more interesting.

“I was just going to do a walk around Bitts Park, but I thought I would give it a bit of a twist.

“I’m looking forward to it. People I know are all wishing me luck.”

Natasha will be joined by her family in a selection of beachwear, and will carry a bucket for members of the public who are impressed with her efforts, to drop money into.

She says she entered the competition to help her modelling career, and finds herself going head to head with her friend Laura Nugent, 18, in this weekend’s final.

Natasha added: “I’m very interested in modelling so entering Miss Cumbria was about trying to break into modelling.

“Laura wants to as well, but she hasn’t got a portfolio and saw this as a good chance to get one.

“We will both be happy whoever wins, it has been a good learning curve for us, as well as a lot of fun.”

The winner of the Miss Cumbria contest, to be held in Carlisle on Saturday, will go on to represent the county in the Miss England contest.

First published at 11:25, Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk