A TEENAGER who works for a children’s charity has been crowned Miss Worcester 2011.

Verity Gwilliam did just enough to stand out from a beautiful crowd in what was one of the most closely-fought contests in recent years.

All 11 candidates displayed composure and personality on the big stage at Worcester Racecourse but it was Miss Gwilliam who won over the hearts of the judging panel and will go on to represent the city at Miss England.

The 19-year-old of St Peter’s, Worcester, said: “I am just so honoured to have won.

"It has been an amazing day. I have had so much fun and met so many lovely people – everyone was so beautiful – and to get this kind of result is out of this world.”

Miss Gwilliam is a former pupil at Oldbury Park Primary School and Christopher Whitehead Language College in St John’s but also attended Worcester Sixth Form College where she intends to go back and study Spanish in September.

But it is charity work that is close to her heart and Miss Gwilliam even picked up a prize yesterday for managing to collect the most bras to go towards the world record bra chain attempt in aid of the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign, which aims to create a dedicated breast unit next to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Miss Gwilliam, a secretarial assistant at the Sunshine Children’s Centre in Bluebell Close, Malvern, run by Barnardo’s, and who also works part-time for her dad at Monarch Car Sales in Hylton Road, Worcester, said: “Working for a charity is a big part of my life.

“Breast cancer is also something very close to my heart because it has been in my family so that is something I am really proud to support.”

Current Miss England Jessica Linley said: “I’m really happy with the winner – she just stood out from the start. Verity’s very friendly and down to earth.

“She also managed to get the most bras, showing that she’s not just a pretty face.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing her again at Miss England and I think she stands a very good chance of winning.”

Katie Sinclair, Miss Worcester 2010, said: “Verity definitely stood out, she is very beautiful.

“She is going to make a fantastic Miss Worcester.

“She is very outgoing and I am proud to hand my crown over to her.

“My advice to Verity would be just to enjoy it while it lasts because the year goes very quickly and I would tell her to take every opportunity and have fun with it.”

Miss Gwilliam’s prizes include being the face of 2nd Skin Lingerie for a year, haircuts, a framed portrait and a one-day modelling course.