A TEENAGER who wants to become a lawyer got the verdict she was hoping for when she was judged Miss Bury 2012 in front of a sell-out crowd at the weekend.

Aisha Sewell, aged 17, took the coveted crown at the final of the competition held at The Met on Saturday.

And it was a double celebration for the former St Gabriel’s RC High School pupil when she also walked away with the Miss Personality Bury Award, voted for by her fellow contestants.

Now she will represent Bury at the Miss England semi-finals in June next year in Leicestershire.

Still on “cloud nine” days after winning the title, Aisha said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic. This all started when I was walking through the Mill Gate centre one day. A lady ran after me and asked if I wanted to enter the competition. My brother Jamie said I ought to go for it.”

Aisha, of Rowan Drive, Bury, is currently studying law, English literature and business studies at Holy Cross College.

She added: “I want to do law at university. As far as entering more contests like Miss Bury are concerned, I’m not sure where the win will take me. It was really exciting to be crowned Miss Bury as I’ve never really been a confident person.” Mary-Anne Ainsworth, 18, from Bury, took second place and Leah Lancaster, aged17, from Walshaw, was third. Lea also won the Miss Popularity Bury title which was voted for by members of the public.

Chelsea Edgar, aged 17, from Radcliffe, won the Miss Charity Bury title after raising the most money for Beauty with a Purpose, Miss World’s own charity.

For the first time, last weekend’s beauty pageant included a Junior Miss Bury contest which was won by 15-year-old Elle Finch. The Elton High School pupil also lifted the Miss Charity and Miss Personality titles in her 13-16 years age group.

Fourteen-year-old Georgia Potter, from Whitefield, was second and Annie Kean, 14 from Prestwich, came third. Annie also won the Junior Miss Popularity Award, voted for by the general public.

Prior to the contest sponsored by the Mill Gate centre, all the girls had taken part in an interview and activity day at Mill Gate shopping centre as well as a catwalk show.

Head Judge for Miss Bury, Kerry Capoverde, said: “All the girls were a credit to themselves and their families.

“I love the fact that the girls had such a great time that most have them have applied for next year’s Miss Bury already. I think the audience loved it too — they were certainly the noisiest we’ve experienced in a long time.”