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FIND OUT MOREFairest of them all
Winning the Miss Manchester crown is just the beginning for 21-year-old Alanna Merchant. The ambitious beauty queen tells All About Manchester she has the Miss World title in her sights.
Photography: Tilllate UK
Manchester has no shortage of beautiful girls, so it takes someone special to win the Miss Manchester crown. This year, the competition's judges found the wow factor they were looking for in Alanna Merchant.
The 5' 6" blue-eyed beauty dazzled the judges with her impressive vital statistics (32DD-26-33), but what carried her through to the final and earned her the hotly contested title was her winning attitude. Ambitious, positive and genuine, Merchant is difficult to ignore or dislike.
Soon she will be preparing for the Miss England competition but first she is letting her hair down in Ibiza, from where she e-mails us the answers to some burning questions...
How do you keep fit?
I enjoy swimming and going to the gym. I also have a dance workout DVD, which I love doing if I'm not visiting the gym.
What's your biggest dietary weakness?
Probably bread and potatoes. I also enjoy the odd pizza too! But I 'try' to eat everything in moderation.
Where do you stand on the size zero debate?
I think it's very sad that the young girls of today see so many celebrities who are size zero and want to look like their role models. I feel that this has to change as zero is not a healthy size to be.
If you could change any one of your features, what would you change and why?
On the whole I feel happy with my appearance, so at the moment I wouldn't change any of my features.
What beauty product could you not live without?
Vaseline for keeping my lips smooth. I also love Johnson's Holiday Skin, which builds a light tan whilst moisturising your skin - I like to have an all year round tan without using sun beds, so this is ideal for me.
What's your favourite item in your wardrobe?
My River Island jeans, which I wore in the 1st round of the live final for the Miss Manchester competition and also my Chloe handbag, which I got for my birthday.
What's your biggest fashion faux pas?
In the past unfortunately I had a tendency to buy shoes that looked good but also were uncomfortable, leaving me suffering now!
What's your favourite shop in Manchester and why?
That's easy - Primark! I love the fact that I can go in with £50 and come out with at least two new outfits.
What's the worst pick-up line you've ever heard?
Luckily I can't actually remember anyone trying one out on me.
Who would your dream date be with and where?
Ryan Phillipe from the film 'Cruel Intentions' and we'd go to a nice classy bar for some cocktails.
Who's your ultimate role model and why?
My mum. She has taught me so much, to be kind and caring. She is a wonderful person and definitely my role model.
Obviously winning the competition will open a lot of doors in modelling. Do you think a model can have a successful career in Manchester, or will you be looking to move?
I am just going to take each day as it comes and hope that I can be very successful. I am very ambitious and will definitely go wherever the work is!
If you could exchange the 'Miss Manchester' title with anything else in the world, what would you choose and why?
The Miss England title! It would be a dream come true to represent my city and my country in Miss World!