Barry's Ruby Dimond secured a top-five finish in this year's Miss Wales competition.
The 18 year-old, who studies at Cardiff and Vale College, was among 30 finalists in this weekend's competition, which concluded on Saturday night.
Reflecting on her bid for the title, Ruby said: “Even though I didn’t win, and didn’t take the crown home, I won something much more valuable.”
“I’ve gained more self-confidence, and appreciation for all my family and friends...to see how much support I have really does mean a lot to me.”
The grand final, at the end of a hectic day of rehearsals, was won by Carleon nursing student Helena Hawke.
“We started at 8.30am with rehearsals and then had interviews with the judges at 4pm,” said Ruby. “The interview could have gone better, but I felt it went well and was great experience.”
Then the tension mounted as the finalists changed before gathering backstage ready to parade on the catwalk. “The wait was really horrible,” said Ruby, “but definitely exciting.”
When the top five were announced, Ruby had to go back out alone, take to the catwalk again and then have an on-stage interview.
“I had to stand on stage in front of hundreds of people. I’m confident, but when it comes to being in front of a big crowd, it’s daunting."
“Some of the girls had practiced for the interview but I hadn’t rehearsed what I was going to say. It came from the heart.”
The competition was staged over three days, starting with an empowerment day, which was “a breath of fresh air”. The second day ended, after rehearsals, with a ball, where Ruby was joined by family, friends and sponsors. She was held up in traffic going home to change, and had just 20 minutes before going back to Cardiff for the evening.
“The ball started at 7pm, and finished around midnight, but I made sure I was home before then because I was so tired after such long days and not sleeping well at all,” said Ruby. “I was worried about it all week, probably for a month to be honest. It’s been very full on, but really, really good, an amazing experience.”
Ruby's father John is a former Malta rugby international and until this week, head coach of the youth squad at Barry RFC, which clinched the WRU Youth Plate title with a 24-21 victory over Gorseinon at Newport's Rodney Parade on Bank Holiday Monday.
Her mother Penny, a teacher, is the youth team manager. John, owner of the Diamond Repair Centre in Barry, along with Matthew Thomas of Asguard Ltd, Cardiff, has sponsored Ruby.
As well as fundraising for the Miss World charity Beauty With A Purpose, Ruby had to have a project to promote and demonstrate how it works.
She is studying a Level 3 Sport course at CAVC and has promoted body image, mental health and physical activity. That involved giving a talk to Year 6 pupils at St Andrew’s Major primary school.
“It was a great opportunity to do this by virtue of being a Miss Wales finalist,” she said, and hopes to be able to give a similar talk at other schools.
Despite her high placing, Ruby will not be entering the competition next year. “I’m coming to the end of my CAVC year. I need to finish that and perhaps go on to university. It’s a crucial time in my life, so I’ll take a step back rather than go for it again. But possibly in the future.”
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