Tara bids for beauty crown
Renfrewshire graduate makes Miss Scotland finals
She’s a talented horse rider and community volunteer fast tracked into a radiography career after gaining a first class honours degree.
Tara Drain is also proving brains and sporting ability sit perfectly with beauty and compassion.
The 23- year- old brunette has made the final of Miss Scotland 2021.
And as Renfrewshire’s only finalist, she’s hoping to win the title for the region.
She said: “For me it’s not about winning the crown, it is more about what you can achieve if you are fortunate enough to wear it.
“I am also looking forward to meeting the other finalists and if I am fortunate enough to attain the title of Miss Scotland 2021, I will aspire to be a role model for young women and a proud and worthy national ambassador.”
Tara is from Lochwinnoch where she attended the village primary before heading to Johnstone High.
She now lives in Paisley and lines up against 11 other contestants in the final of the long running beauty event.
If she can dazzle the judges she’ll be off to represent Scotland at Miss World in Puerto Rico in December.
The event, run by former model and Tennent’s can girl Janis-Sue Smith, has had to take place virtually.
Tara has six challenges to complete to determine fitness, creativity and chiefly beauty with a purpose.
The new title- holder will be crowned at the end of August.
R e n f r e w s h i r e ’s sole representative in the final could follow in the high heels of Kilbarchan girl Nicola Mimnagh, now 34.
She won the Miss Scotland title in 2010, going on to win that year’s Miss UK and raise £100,000 for the children’s charity CHAS.
Tara’s chosen charity is Riding for the Disabled Association which she has already supported.
She’s well known in the equine world and has competed in show-jumping and cross country events.
She said: “Riding for the Disabled are an inclusive and diverse charity which provides children and adults with learning and physical disabilities the opportunity of therapy, achievement, and enjoyment.
“Through the provision of horse care and riding, RDA enrich lives both physically and mentally with participants typically improving their sense of balance and mobility as well as developing their communication skills and resultant self-confidence.
“I am particularly excited by the opportunity Miss Scotland offers me in promoting and raising awareness of RDA.
“Over the years, the Miss Scotland finalists and winners have raised over half a million pounds for their charities, with every penny so raised staying in Scotland.
“If I become Miss Scotland then I would seek to support the ethos of “Beauty with a Purpose” – and leverage publicity to help my chosen charity.”
Tara graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University last year and has worked part- time in a pharmacy.
Volunteering has included at a local care home and a Capability Scotland school.
She was fast-tracked into work as a diagnostic radiographer and is a registered covid vaccinator as well as a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM) ambassador.
Janis-Sue Smith, who holds the licence for Miss Scotland, said things have had to be radically different this year.
But she said: “This year there is sadly no event, but the girls will still have the same six challenges.
“After the challenges are complete and voted for by the sponsor judges, there will be a private final .... six socially distanced judges interviewing each girl one a time.
“We are delighted to have AM magazine on board as our lead sponsor along with fashion brand ‘ get it grl’ , Fitness Frontier, Skin Lab age smart skincare from Dr Kieron Bong, and Tartan Weaving Mill who manufacture the official Miss Scotland tartan.
“We work hard to empower young women, as well as celebrate their beauty.
“We look for an intelligent and fun girl with enthusiasm who wants to work hard to be a great role model for young woman as well as a proud ambassador for her country.”