Miss Scotland

Stephanie Willemse, Miss Scotland 2008

The Miss Scotland competition is an annual beauty pageant targeted at women aged 18–24 living in Scotland. Entrants must hold a British passport to enter. The contest, whose title is owned by the Miss World organisation, is organised each year by The Scottish Sun newspaper.

The winner of the Miss Scotland competition, along with the winners of Miss England, Miss Northern Ireland and Miss Wales, can compete in Miss World. The highest-ranking competitor of the four constituent country entrants is then presented with the title and crown of Miss United Kingdom, who will later compete in Miss International.

History

From 1961-1990, the winner of Miss Scotland would go on to compete at the Miss Universe pageant, usually held in the summer. She would then compete, along with the winners of Miss England, Miss Wales and Miss Northern Ireland, plus other top contenders from the regional competitions, at the Miss United Kingdom Pageant, with the winner of Miss UK going on to compete at the Miss World pageant in November.

During the 90s there would be no Miss Scotland at Miss Universe.

In 1999, after Scottish devolution, Miss Scotland was allowed to enter the Miss World pageant. The first Miss Scotland to compete at Miss World was Stephanie Norrie, she competed alongside Miss Wales, who was Clare Daniels and Nicola Willoughby, who won the last ever Miss United Kingdom pageant that year. Miss England and Miss Northern Ireland first competed at Miss World in 2000. Since then, the highest ranking of the four UK contestants has won the Miss United Kingdom title. In recent years the Miss UK titleholder has also been offered the chance to participate at the following years Miss International pageant, as Miss UK.

In the 21st century, the Miss Scotland contest has enjoyed a high profile with sponsorship from the Scottish Sun newspaper. Miss Scotland has also been the most successful of the four UK nations at Miss World. Since 2000, the Miss UK title has gone to Miss Scotland seven times (Wales has 3 wins, England 2 and Northern Ireland 2).

Titleholders

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From 1961 - 1990, the winner of Miss Scotland represented her country at the Miss Universe pageant.

Notes:

• Pre 1970, only Miss United Kingdom victories are listed, whether the Miss Scotland winners in those years was a runner-up, was unplaced or even participated is unknown.
• Post 1970, for Miss United Kingdom, only the Top 3 results are listed, for the Miss Scotland winners in that period that did not place in the top three, their result or participation details are unknown.
• 1963 Miss Scotland, Grace Taylor, won the Miss Congeniality award at Miss Universe 1963.
• 1976 Miss Scotland, Carol Jean Grant, is the only woman from Scotland to have placed in the top five at both Miss Univers and Miss World, finishing fourth at both in 1976.
• 1979 Miss Scotland, Lorraine Davidson, also placed as 3rd runner-up at Miss International 1980, competing as Miss Great Britain.
• 1987 Miss Scotland, Eileen Catterson, was disqualified from competing in that years Miss Universe due to being under age (she was 17). This makes 1987 the only year in the period 1961-1990, that Scotland were not represented at Miss Universe. Catterson did go on to compete at the following years Miss Europe pageant, where she was unplaced.

Miss Scotland 1997-present

Since 1999, the winner of Miss Scotland has represented her country at the Miss World pageant.

Notes:

• At Miss World 2001, as the highest placed contestant from Europe, Juliet-Jane Horne was awarded the title of Continental Queen of Europe.
• At Miss World 2006, Nicola Mclean reached the Top 17 semi-final but was not selected as one of the 6 finalists. Her overall position was 10th. At Miss World 2015, Mhairi Fergusson was 18th.
• At Miss World 2007, Nieve Jennings was runner-up in Talent fast track and third in Sports fast track, and narrowly missed the Top 16 semifinal, finishing 17th. She was also one of the three soloists to record the Olympic anthem "Light up the Passion, Share the Dream".
• At Miss World 2011, Jennifer Reoch became Scotland's second most successful entrant of the 21st century by reaching the final 7. Miss England, Alize Mounter also reached the final 7 and took the Miss UK title (Mounter was 4th overall, Reoch 7th).
• At Miss World 2015, Mhairi Fergusson's overall placement was 18th.
• Miss Scotland 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2012, did not win the Miss UK title but their UK placements are unknown.

See also

• Miss England
• Miss Northern Ireland
• Miss United Kingdom
• Miss Wales

References

External links

• The official Miss Scotland homepage