A WOMAN from Okehampton has made the grand final of the Miss London 2015 competition.
Portia Hickson, aged 24 and who now lives in Nottinghamshire, has been selected for the grand finale of the competition tomorrow (Friday).
Portia (pictured right) was approached by the competition organiser Fay Hill to take part in an audition two months ago. She was called back for the final 30 'boot camp' getting training for pageants and choreography. The final 30 were whittled down to 15 girls taking part in the final at the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square and Portia made the cut to reach the final.
At the boot camp competitors met with ambassadors from St Christopher's Hospice, a charity supported by the event.
Portia said she was 'extremely moved' by the experience.
She lived in Okehampton and was a student at Okehampton College before moving to Plymouth to study art and design.
She then worked in the Maison Terry salon before taking the plunge to move to Nottingham in hope of achieving her dreams.
Portia said moving up to Nottingham to improve her chances of a modelling career was the right move but loves coming back to Okehampton to see her friends and family.
She said: 'I'm so excited about the final but slightly nervous to be in the final 15.
'At the boot camp we were trained in self presentation, stage choreography and stage presence. The 30 finalists were judged on their individual performances and in the grand final we will battle on stage in a variety of rounds, including sports, interviews and evening wear.
'I would like to win Miss London to have a shot at winning Miss England!'