BIOGRAPHY BY Peter Robertson for HELLO magazine:

When Miss Derby, Laura Coleman, was crowned Miss England 2008 on July 18th, she continued a family tradition dating back 65 years.

Laura’s grandmother, Irene Patrick, was Miss Forces Pin-Up and Miss Lovely Legs in 1943.  And Irene’s daughter, Laura’s mother Dena Patrick, was Miss East Anglia and a finalist in Miss UK in 1975. 

Laura, who’s 22 and has just gained a degree in Business & Marketing, says: “I’m very proud to be the third generation of my family to experience success in beauty pageants, particularly as I’m very close to my mum and my grandma.

“Grandma unfortunately has never attended a beauty pageant of mine, but just observed through media coverage and of course what I tell her. She is 88 with a few health problems and feels uncomfortable going out of the house for long periods of time.  But my parents and good friends have been present for every single one.

“We rang grandma a few minutes after I was announced as the new Miss England, and she was so overwhelmed with pride that she didn't know what to say for a minute.  Then she said to me ‘I knew you could do it. I am so pleased, and proud of you, it's amazing.  We all knew something big was going to happen for you soon, I'm so happy, you deserve this.'

“Mum was also in shock for a minute, then said ‘Well done, well done! You've done it!  We are so proud. Now get ready for a big year, maybe the happiest of your life - you deserve it.’”

Emotion runs deep among the three of them when it comes to these contests, as Laura explains.  “When mum was 20 and had won a Miss Beautiful Eyes competition, her father was dying of cancer.  Grandad had taught her to waltz and quick-step, and he was so proud of her that he insisted he would get out of his hospital bed, dress in a suit, and dance with mum at this dinner as he knew it would be his last time.  When he turned up at the dinner and danced with my mother, everyone looked on in  amazement.  He then got taken straight back to hospital where he died the next day with his family by his side.”

Laura is the only child of Dena’s 24-year marriage to car sales executive Martin Coleman, and she still lives with her parents in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.  Grandma Irene lives 10 miles away in Birstall.  

“People who’ve met me, mum and grandma have said to me that we are ‘three of a kind’” Laura says.  “We all have the same eyes and certain features, and I have a personality like grandma.  So I do feel there’s a strong family resemblance, especially when I look at pictures of my mother when she was younger…apart from her  dark hair.

“I have learned so much from mum and grandma, not just about pageants but about life.  They’ve always been glamorous and have taught me about hair, make-up and style, and to be ambitious, strong, and determined in whatever I choose to do.

“They’ve never pushed me into anything, always just supported me.  Grandma noticed the advert for my first beauty pageant which took my fancy. I entered, and I loved the whole experience so carried on. Mum and grandma were able to share their knowledge when it came to what to wear, how to walk, how to be, and how to wear make-up, and what colours suit me. They’ve always told me to be natural, calm, together, and ladylike.  They trust me to make my own decisions and let me get on with doing my own thing, but they’re always there if I need any help or advice.”

Laura will now take part in the Miss World contest , so how do mum and grandma rate her chances?  “Miss World is another level of competition altogether” says Laura. “I think we are all focusing on the experience as opposed to winning. Of course they are bias towards me, but they just want me to enjoy and embrace the experience, and put my all into it, which I am definitely planning on doing to make England and my family proud.”