Bedworth dentist sets her sights on a new crown

[dutchman]

Newly-qualified Bedworth dentist Amanpreet Bal has set her sights on a crown of her own.

She has been selected as a finalist for Miss India UK which is being held in London in three weeks' time.

The 25-year-old is among 18 beautiful Indian girls, who will line up in front of the judges on HMS President moored on the River Thames.

Amanpreet, who works at Coventry Road Dental Care in Bedworth, was persuaded by friends to enter the beauty pageant: "I entered online and had to send photographs and a short biography," she said.

"I didn't think any more of it and I was quite surprised when I received an email saying that I had been selected for the finals."

But she is no stranger to the world of glamour. As well as being a full-time dentist she is also a part-time model.

While she was studying dental surgery at the University of Birmingham she was asked to be the `face' of an annual charity event and that was her first step into the modelling world.

"Since then, I have built up many contacts and enjoyed taking part in numerous fashions shows, photo-shoots and video-shoots and appeared in magazine," she said.

"But Miss India UK is the first beauty contest I have been involved in and I am really looking forward to it."

As well as being a dentist and part-time model, Amanpreet is currently designing and hand-making an Asian fashion collection for Smile Train, a worldwide charity which helps to fund operations for children born with cleft lips and palates.

She was immediately successful when her first outfit sold for £100 less than 24 hours after it was advertised.

Her other hobbies include baking, sewing and socialising with family and friends and she is passionate about travelling and broadening her horizons.

A recent trip with friends saw her conducting research in New York, trekking in Peru, zip lining through the cloud forests of Costa Rica, exploring the jungles of the Amazon Rainforest and relaxing on the beaches of Brazil.

A glittering back tie occasion, the final of Miss India UK takes place on Saturday, February 4 on HMS President and if she wins Amanpreet will be able to add another exotic destination to her travels.

The Miss India competition takes place in 35 countries and the winning girl from each country goes through to Miss India Worldwide at Surinam in South America on February 25.