Mechanic Liz sets sights on winning beauty queen title

A MECHANIC is swapping her oily overalls for glittering ball gowns – in a bid to become a top beauty queen.

Petrolhead Elizabeth Jenkins, 19, spends her days taking apart cars, lorries and trucks as she learns her trade.

But Elizabeth – known as Liz – is also one of 32 finalists battling to be crowned Miss Wales 2018.

When she isn’t on the catwalk, she’s one of just two women out some 300 students on her automotive course.

And she’s leading the call for more women to follow her footsteps into engineering.

Liz said: “I suppose I am a bit of a petrolhead. I’ve always really liked cars.

“I customised my own car, I started adding parts to it and I went to car shows.

“I thought that I’d love to make my own car look like some of the cars I saw there. I loved the designs.

“I’ve put LED lights inside my car and bought some splitters and side skirts. I’ve added bits to make it look sicker and better.”

The aspiring beauty queen passed her driv- ing test cruises red in October 2016 and in her Vauxhall Corsa – complete with personalised number plate “LI7 JNK”. Liz , who studies automative engineering at Bridgend College, is now encouraging more women to get into engineering.

She said: “When I applied for the course I saw that it was all about working under the bonnets. I thought it sounded really interesting so I gave it a go and I love it.

“I’m one of only two girls out of almost 300 people on the course, but it shouldn’t be like that and I’d love to see more women going into engineering.

“We study three days a week, theory and practical, work ing on not just cars but also heavy vehicles like trucks, lorries and diggers.

“I’ve always loved fast cars, like the ones in the Fast & Furious films.

“My dream car would be a Ford Mustang – I love the way they look and how powerful they are.”

Liz, who is also a part time barmaid, is now set to compete in the Miss Wales final next month.

Contestants take part in an “empowerment day”, followed by a catwalk and an interview in front of judges.

The winner will represent their country at the Miss World final in the Philippines later this year.

Liz said: “I’ve got braces so I thought that would be a problem because I have some gaps in my teeth.

“I thought there was no way I was going to get through.

“It’s good to just give it a go and take a bit of a step into the unknown.”