Disneyland dream for beauty queen
DETERMINED Frances Watkins's efforts to be the only disabled child in the Face of the Globe beauty pageant have paid off with a top five finish and an award for her publicity efforts — with the help of some big names.
Now 12-year-old Frances, who is from Cwmgwili and has quadruple spastic cerebral palsy, could be heading to the finals in Disneyland Paris as part of team Wales — as long as sponsors can help cover the cost.
Mum Marie Watkins said everyone is very excited at the prospect of getting to the finals.
"I'm so proud of her," she said.
"We are so happy that she came in the top five.
"She enjoyed the event and loved meeting the other girls. She had her best friend Cerys with her for support on stage and helping to make sure the electric wheelchair didn't go over the edge of the stage.
"She won the Miss Publicity award for the work she had done — she had to do a scrap book to keep track of who had wished her luck, and where and when it was.
"She sent out a lot of letters and did a lot online with Facebook and Twitter pages — the letters she had back were from the Queen, the Prime Minister and Katherine Jenkins. We also went up to see the First Minister of Wales and had a photo taken with him in Cardiff Bay.
"We now have to find a sponsor for her so she can go as part of team Wales to Disneyland Paris."
Being a typical little girl, Frances, who is a pupil at Canolfan Amanwy in Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, picked out two dresses for the event, and proudly wore her finalist sash even before the competition.
"There are people out there that won't talk to her because they think she won't understand, but she does," said Marie.
"We hear whispers from people, we would rather they just came up and asked about her.
"She says she just wants to show it doesn't matter about disability — not to be afraid of it, there is still a person underneath.
"Her speech is a little slow, but when she wants to talk she will.
"Her mental ability is the same as what a normal 12-year-old would be.
"She's very cheeky. She does come out with these things that typical teenagers would say to their parents.
"She has two older brothers and an older sister so she is spoilt in our house."Read more at:formal dresses
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