Beauty queens' coffee shop fundraiser boosts Macmillan Cancer Support

Sophie White (second left) and Sophie Skelding (third from right), are seen with their special guest the Mayor of Rotherham Cllr Eve Rose Keenan and (from left to right): Sophie White's mum and event supporter Helen Schofield, beauty therapist Karry Badger, permanent make-up and brow artist Carla Hamilton and beauty therapist Lydia Mellor. 180179

TWO would-be beauty queens put their heads together to dream up a tasty salon fundraiser.

Sophie Skelding, who runs the Lux salon at Stag, joined forces with Sophie White to serve up coffee and cakes for charity.

The pair, who are both in the running for national titles, raised £67 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Sophie Skelding (21) is bidding to be Miss Galaxy in the national final in Warrington later this month, while Sophie White (16) will fight it out for the Miss Teen Galaxy crown

They invited the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Eve Rose Keenan, to join them for the Lux fundraiser.

Sophie White said: “We are encouraged to raise money for charity and do things for good causes.

“I have also supported other charity coffee mornings and spoken to councillors about mental health awareness.”

Sophie said she was nervous but excited about the final, revealing: “I’ve never done anything like this before.”

Salon owner Sophie Skelding, of Ryecroft Road, Rawmarsh, qualified for the national final after scooping the Yorkshire crown.

A past Miss South Yorkshire and Miss England contestant, she took a break from competing to have a baby and is returning to action this year.

She said the contest was about more than beauty, saying fundraising and personality was more important these days.

“I’m excited to be raising money for charity,” she said.

The winner of the national final on March 22 has a shot at the international crown, with the overall final taking place in Orlando later in the year.