ALL eyes were on the Entertainment Marquee's huge stage in Sherdley Park on Sunday as a glamorous collection of local beauties competed for the sought after title of St Helens Star Show Queen of 1996.

And what a final it was with prizes galore on offer to the lucky winner.

The judges, Caroline Ogunlana, who represented Lady Attraction Modelling Agency; Alex McDougal, fitness instructor with Pace Fitness Centre; Sue Gerrard, the entertainment and promotions editor with the St Helens Star; the Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Alex Worth; Jenny Lloyd who organised the St Helens Show; and Stan Magowan, the managing director of Ellisons Travel, were given a tough time but in the end, the result proved a real winner with the packed audience with 16-year old Lydia Sergeant coming out on top.

Bubbly Lydia, from Newton, who will be starting her A-Level studies at St Aelred's High School this September, was thrilled to have won.

She told the Star: "I couldn't believe it when I heard my name being read out. It was such a buzz to have beaten everybody else to win it and I certainly didn't expect it."

She added: "I have never done anything like this before but my mum is a fashion designer and the models who wear her clothes look brilliant and that persuaded me to give it a try.

"All my friends were really pleased for me, especially my boyfriend, Paul. He is in America at the moment working in a camp for two months and when he phoned up on Sunday night and I told him we were going to Paris, he was thrilled."

Lydia is now looking forward to her busy year as the new Show Queen

The second prize this year went to Stephanie Jane Garner from St Helens, and Oneikeh Preston, from Eccleston, took third.

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