A 24-year-old police officer from Chorley has qualified for the final of the Miss North West beauty contest.
Tara Sampson now has a chance to compete for the Miss England title on November 17, 2026.
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Sampson, who has served with Greater Manchester Police for over a year, secured her spot at the regional final after walking the catwalk at the Park Hall Hotel & Spa in Lancashire.
Before joining the police, she worked as an officer inside a prison facility.
She noted that her career background provided valuable experience that transfers into pageant competition.
"I was really shocked to be put through as it was my first ever beauty pageant," said Sampson.
Sampson stated that she chose to enter after being drawn to the event's core charitable mission.
"What struck me about Miss England is that its motto is beauty with a purpose so it appealed to me to do the pageantry alongside raising money for good causes," she said.
She mentioned that she kept her participation mostly private beforehand. "Only my unit sergeant knows about it so far and she has been very excited.
But I'm going to announce it to my other colleagues soon," said Sampson.
Transitioning from daily duty gear into pageant attire served as a welcome change of pace.
"I really enjoyed being able to get out of my big heavy uniform and get glammed up because at heart I am a very girly girl," she explained.
