SCOTTISH NURSE CROWNED MISS
Lisa-Marie Tse, 25, a theatre nurse at St John’s Hospital in Livingston, only took part in the event after going to the Far East on holiday.
She said she entered the competition after the Covid pandemic taught her to take chances and life live to the full.
To her shock, she was crowned winner at the finals held last weekend and now plans to put her nursing career on hold to enjoy her prize of a job working on TV.
Lisa-Marie, whose mum is Scottish and whose dad is from Hong Kong, said: “I was going to Hong Kong to visit my gran so decided to apply. I still can’t believe I’ve won and I’m so excited about what the future holds.
“My dad has wanted me to take part in the pageant since before I could walk.
“He always encouraged me to move to Hong Kong to explore my Chinese heritage. I’d never fancied taking part in the competition in the past – I’m not a girly girl – but everything that has happened this year has taught me life is too short and you should live for the moment. Covid has changed my
perspective on a lot of things and made me want to grab every new experience I can get.”
Lisa-Marie, who was born in and grew up in Biggar, Lanarkshire, and whose parents Louise and Peter run a number of restaurants in the area, says her friends in Scotland are delighted by her win – but surprised too.
She said: “I don’t normally wear make-up and don’t usually even dry my hair.
“I’m quite happy being dressed in surgical scrubs – they are very comfy, like pyjamas.
“I like wearing flat shoes instead of heels. If I’m going out and plan to wear make-up, then my cousin or friend will usually have to do it for me.
“So taking part in a beauty pageant was completely out of my comfort zone – but I’ve loved it.”
Li sa- Ma r i e , who studied nursing at Napier University in Edinburgh and graduated last year, had to take part in