A YOUNG mum is celebrating after being crowned Highland News Group’s Thursday Girl 2011.
Nicola Mitchell (19), of Mackintosh Road, Inverness, was stunned when she learned she had landed the winning slot in our popular annual search for a sweetheart.
Beating off stiff competition from a whole host of lovely lasses, she has scooped prizes worth £2,500 and the chance to make her first move into modelling. She will also become Face of Ego, through our contest partners Ego Hair Design.
It was readers’ votes that counted for pretty Nicola, after the initial raft of entries was narrowed down weekly to 12 hopefuls in the final.
On hearing of her win, Nicola said: "I am delighted, I never thought I would win!"
Nicola, who is mum to five-month-old Riley, said it was her family members and partner Stephen Mcghie, who persuaded her to submit a picture of herself into our competition.
She said: "My auntie has been trying to get me to enter it for the last couple of years, but I just decided this year to give it a shot. Stephen was encouraging me to enter and he said if I didn’t, he would do it for me.
"He and my family will be over the moon to hear I’ve won."
Although she is currently on maternity leave, Nicola normally works in childcare at an after school club in Drakies.
She has never done any modelling before, but hopes her Thursday Girl status could see her take her first steps into the modelling world.
In association with Ego Hair Design, the super package of prizes she has won includes:
A year-long VIP hair care and styling package from the Ego salon in Kenneth Street, Inverness, valued at £1,350.
A modelling picture portfolio from an exclusive photoshoot with Seymour Photography, valued at £700.
As the Face of Ego, she will feature on the salon’s promotional material for at least a year.
Free beauty treatments to the value of £500 from Charisma Nails & Beauty, Palace Hotel, Inverness.
Nicola added: "It’s a really good set of prizes. I’m especially looking forward to the portfolio and maybe getting a new hairstyle."
