AN ambitious model from Whitefield has reached the final of a major beauty pageant.

Samantha Noone, aged 22, is set to jet off on holiday later this month and, on her return, will only have a matter of hours to prepare for the Miss Manchester 2010 final.

“It is going to be really hectic after I get back from my trip, but I am going to give it my best shot and see what happens on the big day,” said Samantha, who works as a sales executive in Prestwich. “Winning it would be a dream come true.”

Samantha won a place in the showdown when she polled 426 text votes — the second highest number.

She had to finish in the top 10 out of 39 entrants to earn a spot in the final on May 7 at the Bijou nightclub in Manchester.

Samantha added: “I am really chuffed because when I entered last year, I only got 13 votes, mostly because I didn’t really publicise it to get people to support me.

“I still got through to the final after the judges gave me a wild card entry.

“I had high hopes of winning, but I had never entered a pageant as big as that so on the night my nerves got the better of me, but this year I am ready and I am a lot more confident.

“I know what I want out of life and that is to work hard at getting to where I want to be, whether that’s in front of a camera or on the musical theatre stage.”

Another contestant, Cherelle Slater, aged 22, of Prestwich, missed out on a place in the final, but will be hoping the judges award her a wild card place.