Norbury care home deputy manager is named Miss Surrey

By Holly Thompson

newsdesk@croydonadvertiser.co.uk

The deputy manager of a Norbury care home says she is "absolutely gobsmacked" after making it through to the final of Miss England.

Uma Dhir beat 200 hopefuls to be named Miss Surrey on Saturday.

It was the first time the 23-year-old had ever entered a beauty contest.

She had been amazed just to be told she had made it through to the final 10 after sending off photos and an application form.

Uma, of Longhurst Road, Woldingham, said: "It feels fantastic to win.

"I haven't done anything like this before and thought I would be lucky just to get to the final."

The former Croydon High School student has brains as well as beauty as she studied business management at the University of Sheffield.

And over the past two years she has worked at Norbury Hall residential care home, in Craignish Avenue.

Uma, who performs with the Woldingham Players, won over the judges at Saturday's final, at Lingfield Park race course, partly through her love of theatre.

She explained: "When they rang me to tell me I had got through to the final it dawned on me that I had to have a particular talent which is one of the categories in the final.

"I've always had a passion for drama and used to be in all the school plays so thought I would perform a monologue.

"I decided instead of finding one, I would write one myself about the environment."

She lives with her parents Manju and Vijay on the same road as glamour model Katie Price so has an insight about the attention some models can get.

"There's always photographers camped outside our house," Uma said.

"I've even seen Jordan drive past in her car a couple of times which is exciting."

Uma's win guarantees her a place in the Miss England national final, which is being held at the Hilton London Metropole hotel on July 20.

If Uma wins the final she will have the chance to compete in the international Miss World pageant – but she insists she will never let the success go to her head.

"At the end of the day, you go back to work and your life goes on," she said.

"My family and I are just over the moon that I've got so far."