The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Angus Miss Scotland hopeful swapping grooming dirty dogs for catwalk.
Finalist dreams of swapping doggie shampoo for coveted crown at glittering gala night
Carnoustie Miss Scotland finalist Abby Gray hopes to go from dog washes to catwalks when she competes for the title later this month.
Abby Gray, 22, who runs her own canine grooming business out of her grandparents’ house in Monifieth, is competing against 16 other women for the Miss Scotland crown.
If successful, she will go on to represent her home country in the Miss World competition in Thailand later this year.
Abby, who entered after being cajoled by friends, has been fulfilling the charity part of the competition with sponsored dog washes to raise money for the SSPCA.
She said: “I have always been interested in doing lots of different things. I have a huge passion for dogs and animals and that kind of thing.
“So I started the business in December working out of my grandparents’ house and I’ve managed to build up a loyal customer base.”
Her work is a far cry from the more glamorous end of competing.
Abby has already passed through an interview stage and a set of physical challenges before preparing to appear in the Scottish final in Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel on June 8.
She said regular gym sessions and dress fittings have helped her prepare for the big night.
“I would be so shocked and excited if I won. It has opened up doors for other contestants and it would be great to go on raising money for the charity of my choice.”
She said her family, including her little sister, are supporting her in the competition.
Others, however, have not been so kind and she is aware the Miss Scotland competition and others like it are becoming increasingly controversial.
“I haven’t received any messages on social media myself, but I’ve seen them,” she said.
“They say we’re all blonde and tanned and whatever, but we are just Scottish and representing who we are. It’s not about what we look like, but who we are. It’s so much more than just image.
She said she didn’t “see the issue” with the competition.
“We’re raising money for charity. We’re not promoting anything bad. It’s been a good experience for me and I hope I’ve made some lifelong friends.
“It’s something I can look back and tell my grandkids about,” she added.
Another Angus native taking part in the competition is an Arbroath girl who was born with a severe club foot, spina bifida and a leg length difference.
Lauren Macrae faced numerous operations at the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital to correct the condition and launching a fundraising programme last month as part of her Miss Scotland journey.
East Kilbride flight attendant Linzi Mclelland, 24, won the 2018 Miss Scotland title.
It’s not about what we look like, but who we are. It’s so much more than just image. ABBY GRAY