WHILE not known for taxing the intellect, this year’s Miss England finals saw old foes Oxford and Cambridge clash in a battle of brains as well as beauty.

Miss Oxfordshire Amelia Watt competed in this year’s competition alongside 60 girls from across the country battling for the coveted crown.

The 24-year-old defeated opponent Miss Cambridgeshire Carina Tyrell during the pageant’s Brainy Beauty round after their general knowledge was put to the test, but her rival pipped her to the overall title.

This was the first year the quiz round featured at the Miss England finals.

The Oxford Brookes student said: “Seeing as she is a student doctor it was quite exciting to beat her at the Brainy Beauty. The introduction of this award proves that there’s more to us. I was so grateful to be given this chance.”

Miss Watt’s Brainy Beauty title guaranteed her a place in the pageant’s top 15 contestants during the finals at Torquay’s Riviera International Centre on Monday, June 16.

She said: “I came in the top 15 which is the best I think Oxfordshire has done for a few years.”

But the two-time Miss Oxfordshire beauty queen, of James Street, missed out on securing the Miss England crown, won by Cambridgeshire’s Miss Tyrell, 24.

Miss Watt said: “Twenty thousand girls apply each year and to make it to the top 60 and have a chance to win the Miss England crown is an amazing achievement.’’ Wiltshire-born Miss Watt came to Oxford in 2008 to read for a Primary Teaching degree at Oxford Brookes University.

She is now studying for her Masters degree in Business Management and is due to complete her studies next January.

QUIZ QUESTIONS

MISS England contestants were asked 20 general knowledge questions. The top five contestants were then asked 10 more questions. Among them were:

  • What is the name of the Prime Minister?
  • What is the capital of Germany?
  • In which country would you find the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
  • Who wrote Romeo & Juliet?

Answers: David Cameron, Berlin, Italy, Shakespeare


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