Miss England finalist caught up in pub fracas
A Miss England contestant hopes to clear her name after being caught up in a disturbance which left her needing plastic surgery.
Olivia Cooke has made it to the finals of the beauty pageant 23 years after her dad was crowned Mr UK.
The 21-year-old, from Barming, will compete against 55 other contestants for a chance to win the top spot and a place at Miss World.
The professional golfer was inspired to enter after the success of her dad, Phil Cooke, in 1996.
She said: “He is the reason I signed up in the beginning. “I have always wanted to do it since I was a little girl and it is really good to have got this far already.” The former Hillvew School for Girls student managed to bag herself a place at the semi-finals held in Camber Sands last weekend. She was one of just 10 girls to make it through after competing in three events - evening wear, black outfit and a sports round. She also raised money for Papyrus and Beauty with a Purpose, both of which are the chosen charities for the Miss England contest.
However eight months ago, Olivia was left needing treatment after a disturbance at a pub in West Malling. She will appear in court, alongside her mum, after the night out went wrong.
Her mother, Julie, 46, said: “She needed 10 stitches above her left eyebrow and her left eye has nerve damage. She has scarring and and she will need plastic surgery. She still has numbness at the top of her head.
“She denies any wrongdoing and is looking forward to clearing her name.”
Speaking of her pageant success, Mrs Cooke added: “It is such an achievement. All of us will watch her in the final and I am so proud. She has such a good chance of winning.” Olivia, who is sponsored by American Golf and took up a PGA course at 18, said she felt the pressure of competing in the pageant. Her focus is the final which takes place in Newcastle, held by Gainford Group at the end of this month.
She said: “We were the last semi-finals to take place, so we don’t have very long to get everything prepared, so it has been a little stressful.”
The final will see contestants compete in 13 optional rounds with different dress categories. The whole family plan to make a trip out of it and will watch Olivia compete.
Mr Cooke, 47, a London firefighter said his daughter’s success brought back memories from his days competing, adding: “I am so chuffed to see her get to the finals. She is so busy with her golf career and this was something she just wanted to give a go and it’s great she got through on her first try. It took me three attempts for Mr UK. Back then we had a swimsuit competition and other rounds.”
Miss England organisers confirmed they were aware of Olivia’s pending court case. Olivia denied assault at a hearing in May, following the altercation where China Gold was left with a black eye. She is yet to plea on a revised charge of assault by beating. Ms Gold has been charged with wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm and is due to appear at Maidstone Magistrates court on July 26. Mrs Cooke admitted a charge of actual bodily harm. Both mother and daughter will appear at Maidstone Magistrates Court in September.