Thugs threatened pair with knife in own home
Lauren Gracie won this year’s Miss Royale UK final 12 months after finishing as first runner-up.
The 28- year- old, who has been competing in pageants for the past seven years, was delighted to be crowned the 2019 winner at the bash, held at the Goglasgow Urban Hotel.
Former St Aidan’s High pupil Lauren said: “There’s a lot of different components that go into beauty pageants.
“We had five categories with the majority of the marks coming from the evening wear modelling and the interview with the judges. “It was weird. I got very emotional. “I must have cried for three hours. I drove in my pyjamas and crown on my head!
“My boyfriend Alex was over at the Tomorrowland music festival in Belgium but he was watching the results on Instagram which was nice of him.”
Lauren is now looking forward to being an ambassador for Royale over the next 12 months as well as taking part in various charity events on behalf of the organisation.
“In the past Royale have raised thousands for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital charity,” said Lauren.
“We got a tour of the hospital to see the work that they do and it’s fantastic so it will be a real honour to support that.
“There are a few different events that have already been organised and I would like to be involved in my own charity work.”
Lauren, who works at the Department for International Development in East Kilbride, also hopes her success will show people that the stereotypical view of pageants and those who enter them is just wrong. Three thugs threatened a man and a woman with a blade after forcing their way into their home in Wishaw early on Friday morning.
Police are appealing for information following the attempted robbery at a house in Melrose Crescent.
Around 12.25am on Friday, August 16, the men forced their way into the house and threatened the pair with a knife.
The suspects demanded money but She added: “I don’t think people realise just how many friends you make when you do pageantry. “I have friends from all over the United Kingdom who I would made off empty handed in the direction of a wooded area at Ettrick Street.
The occupants of the house weren’t injured but were left extremely distressed by their ordeal.
Detectives are continuing enquiries and appealing for information and have issued a description of the would-be robbers.
The first is described as 6ft tall wearing a khaki parka with a fur hood. The second never have met.
“I think people watch shows like Toddlers and Tiaras or films like Miss Congeniality and think everyone is a bimbo and there is is around the same height, wearing a dark coloured parka with fur hood.
The third was wearing dark coloured clothing and was carrying a plastic bag. All three were wearing gloves.
Detective Constable Gary Lipscombe of Wishaw Police Office said: “We have been carrying out enquiries into this incident to establish more details surrounding the exact circumstances and to trace the three men responsible. a lot of bitching backstage but it’s not like that at all.
“We all have a great laugh and we all support each other but no-one sees that side of things.”
“I would urge anyone who may have seen these three men acting suspiciously in the local area in the early hours of Friday morning, or anyone with information that may assist our ongoing investigation to contact Wishaw Police Office through 101 quoting reference number 0084.
“Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”