Liverpool model Paige has smiled her way to the Miss England finals

Liverpool model Paige Cannon James has smiled her way into the finals of the Miss England contest.

The 18-year-old from West Derby was crowned Miss Brightest Smile in the competition semi-final and now goes on to compete for the main title in October.

Paige, who’s just completed a fashion diploma at City of Liverpool College, has been taking part in pageants since she was 12.

She’s also built up a modelling portfolio which includes commercial photoshoots and runway modelling for three designers at last year’s London Fashion Week.

Now she’s looking forward to following a long line of gorgeous Liverpool girls, including Bollywood star Amy Jackson, by competing for the Miss England crown.

Paige, who went to Broughton Hall and Gateacre schools, says she loves the buzz of being in the contests.

“I started off doing junior competitions, so I did Junior Miss English Rose, Junior Miss International Rose and Junior Miss British Isles.

“I really love everything about it, the whole experience, and it just makes me feel good. 

“I’m usually not that confident as a person, but when I’m in the competitions it’s different – once I’m up there I just do it and really enjoy it. I think I actually have more confidence in competitions than I do in real life. 

“I don’t tend to get nervous on stage, it’s more excitement, but for the Miss England semi-finals my nerves were all over the place because that’s the biggest one I’ve done so far.

“I just did my best and hoped it would be good enough on the day and I won the Brightest Smile contest so that sent me straight through to the finals in October.”

Judges weren’t just impressed with Paige’s naturally smile – for the record, she’s never had her teeth whitened! –  she also had to go up against the other entrants in a talent round where she got the chance to show off a more sporty side.

“I’m a member of the Liverpool Harriers and I was city champion for four years on the run, so I made a video with clips of me competing for my talent entry,” she explains.

Paige

Having made it through to the finals, on October 17, Paige now has another catwalk test ahead of her, although she’s resisting the temptation to rehearse too much. “My mum always tells me to put my heels on and practice walking at home, but I try not to do it often because if I over-think it, that’s what makes me more nervous.”

Whatever the result, she hopes that Miss England will help boost her modelling career.

If it does she’ll be keeping up a run of family success – her cousin Alex Cannon was a model, influencer and Big Brother constant before becoming a successful entrepreneur, and her auntie Nicola also did photographic and catwalk work.

“I’d really like to model full-time,” Paige says. “I’ve just started a personal training apprenticeship and I’ve got my own nail business, so I’m working on those for the time being, but modelling is what I’ve always been obsessed with.

“Now I’ve studied fashion, I’m hoping one day I could combine the two – I’d love to see my own collection at London Fashion Week.”