A TEACHER is doubling up in both the classroom and on the catwalk in a bid to become Miss Great Britain.
Rebecca McAllister, 23, will soon begin her first year as a primary school teacher, teaching four-and-five-year-olds in Derby.
But she has another important date – in the finals of the prestigious beauty contest.
Rebecca, from Alvaston, was recently crowned Miss Derby Great Britain, qualifying her to take part in the competition's spectacular national final.
She concedes that being a beauty queen is unusual for a teacher but does not believe it should influence her pupils' views on life and the importance of image.
Although she is looking forward to telling the youngsters all about her amazing experience, she does not think it is one they should have themselves, any time soon.
She said: "I don't agree with children's beauty pageants because I feel that children should be children for as long as they should be.
"The reason I do beauty pageants is for charity and for people to know me as a character."
Rebecca is looking forward to talking to her class – whom she taught during her teaching training, last year – about her experience in Miss Derby Great Britain.
"Some of them kept saying to me that I look like a princess anyway so I'm quite excited to see how they react when I tell them," she said.
Rebecca can't wait for the national final, but is keen to stress that she will not let it distract her in her pursuit of a successful career.
She said: "My first role is Miss McAllister, not Miss Derby. I am a teacher and that is my job and pageantry is a hobby.
"I would never let it distract me from that and I now have an amazing opportunity in front me."
One thing Rebecca is keen to teach her students is about self-belief and being happy within themselves.
It is something that she feels heavily contributed to her winning the award.
"I think the judges took my character into account, because I am only 5ft 2ins and I will be up against models.
But I think having the confidence, talking and showing an interest in people makes a difference."
She does not expect to win the national final in Leicester on November 13 and 14, where she will be up against 60 other regional winners.
But Rebecca is still looking forward to the event, as well as the potential to raise money for a number of charities.
She said: "My family and I are active fund-raisers for Macmillan and Marie Curie for personal reasons, but I will also be fund-raising for Rainbows Children's Hospice throughout the year.
