More than skin deep - Miss Wales 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 2, 2012 --

She may have been crowned Miss Wales in 2010 but this Atlantic College educated beauty queen has many strings to her bow, not least her incredible signing voice. She has no desire to be the next Katherine Jenkins or Charlotte Church as she is very much her own woman, but she has already had the honour of singing the Welsh and English national anthems at the Millennium Stadium. Her incredible journey from St Donats in the Vale of Glamorgan to representing Wales in China and singing at Gary Speed’s memorial game is told in Tu Ol i’r Tiara: Bywyd Miss Cymru, one of eight new Quick Reads / Stori Sydyn titles for 2012. The Quick Reads / Stori Sydyn 2012 titles will be launched at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday 25th January at 11.30am and at Neuadd PJ in Newborough, Anglesey, later the same day at 6.30pm.
21-year old Courtenay is a proud flag bearer for non-Welsh speaking parents who send their children through a Welsh language education. As a result, she sees herself as having the best of both worlds in terms of culture and opportunities. Her English-born father winced on seeing the family name emblazoned on a Welsh national football shirt she wore at the Wales Millennium Stadium gig, but for Courtenay it was a career highlight.

From the Miss Wales victory, next stop was the Miss World competition in China. From a very young age Courtenay and her sister would devour this annual television spectacular, admiring the glamorous gowns but also delighting in picking out the disasters! Beauty pageants were never her thing but this determined young lady saw the competition as an opportunity and took it.
The crown may have gone to Miss USA, her roommate at the competition, but she did come second in the talent contest and learnt a lot about life as a result. As a self-confessed adrenalin junkie and talented swimmer and runner, her book also charts a life-changing journey to the Arctic for a TV programme as a 14-year old. It was there, sleeping in igloos alongside local tribespeople, she realised how lucky she was and how to put personal problems into perspective. Giving back is important to Courtenay and since winning Miss World she has raised over £100,000 for charity

She was courted by record executives after being spotted singing at a wedding reception. However, financial problems at EMI put an end to a promised recording deal days before it was due for signature. Courtenay is philosophical and the setback made her stronger and even more determined to make her mark as a contemporary performer on her own terms, rather than a manufactured product designed to sell records.
Delyth Humphreys, Head of the Children's Books and Reading Promotion Department at the Welsh Books Council, added: “The Quick Reads / Stori Sydyn campaign is gaining momentum and encouraging thousands of people across Wales – many of whom may not have read a book before – to give reading a go.

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