A former Miss World contender from Powys has been presented with a lifetime achievement award.
Sally-Ann Fawcett, writer of the Miss Demeanour trilogy and head judge for Miss Great Britain, presented Welshpool’s most successful beauty queen Ann Jones with a National Pageant Industry Award.
“As a little girl watching Miss United Kingdom 1975 on TV, my heart was captivated by a beautiful young lady called Elizabeth Ann Jones, from Welshpool,” said Sally.
“Always known as Ann, this gorgeous lady felt like a childhood friend as I followed her pageant journey.”
Ann was hugely successful in the pageant world. She competed four times in both Miss Wales and Miss United Kingdom, and was determined to keep going until she won them both - which she did, in 1978.
Ann had also, a year earlier, become the only British woman to win the Miss Intercontinental title.
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As Miss Wales, she travelled to Mexico for the Miss Universe pageant, where she met her husband Carlos. And as Miss United Kingdom she competed in Miss World, finishing as fifth runner-up.
Ann moved to Mexico after marrying Carlos and the couple had two beautiful daughters.
However in recent years there has been tragedy with her losing her husband, and her beloved parents, as well as the devastation of seeing her apartment in Acapulo wrecked by a storm last year.
“We have been planning to meet for years and it was beyond an honour to visit Ann in Welshpool, before she returns to Mexico, and to present her with the PIA (Pageant Industry Award) as my Iconic Queen 2024,” said Sally.
“It is especially apt as it is 46 years almost to the day that she was crowned Miss United Kingdom 1978 in Blackpool.
“Another amazing coincidence is that the first contest Ann ever won was Miss Advertizer, in Oswestry and the PIA Awards this year are being held in Oswestry at The Lion Quays Hotel and Spa Resort on September 21.
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“Because it is unlikely Ann will ever return to Welshpool, this award really did feel as though she has come full circle in her career as a beauty queen.”
“Ann is one of the friendliest, most humble and down to earth beauty queens I know, and nobody deserves this award more. It was an honour to meet her, her childhood friends, and her daughter Francheska and granddaughter Anya.
“All hail, Ann Rullan, our Princess of Wales and our forever Iconic Queen.”
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