Dentist full-filling Miss India ambition

Buy photos » Amanpreet Bal is hoping to be crowned Miss India UK. (S)

A DENTIST who has swapped the chair for the catwalk is fighting tooth and nail to be crowned Miss India UK.

Amanpreet Bal, from Styvechale, was persuaded to enter the pageant competition by her friends.

And the 25-year-old has been selected as a finalist for the glamour event to board the HMS President boat in London on February 4.

A panel of five judges will assess the 20 finalists' performances in four sections: the evening gown, Indian dress, a talent and a question-and-answer session.

Former Stoke Park School pupil Amanpreet will be raising awarness of a charity that cares for children born with a cleft if she is crowned winner by the judging panel.

"Every finalist has something to offer but I am relishing the opportunity to raise awareness of SmileTrain," she told the Observer.

"The winner gets to become an official ambassador to their chosen charity and I want to be able to raise as much money and awareness as I possibly can.

"I am currently raising money for a skydive next month and eventually I'd like to go abroad and do some hands on work for the charity.

"It will be nice to get away from the dentistry chair and mix it with some of the joys of modelling and it's nice to get a taste of glamour too."

Amanpreet, who works as a dentist in Bedworth, has always been heavily involved in charity work throughout her education, which helped her become the face of an annual charity event at The University of Birmingham.

"I got my first taste of modelling when I was at university," she added.

"I did some for a few charity fashion shows in my second year but when I finished university I became a dentist and never really gave it much thought until my friends persuaded me to enter the competition online.

"I was excited to find out I had made it to the final. I have met all the other contestants at a pre-event and I am really looking forward to it."