TEN hopefuls will soon be competing in the Miss Bolton competition and Christina Cunningham is hoping to emerge victorious.

The 22-year-old from Kearsley, an intern for Bolton Wanderers, has been selected as a finalist.

Christina feels this opportunity has been a long time coming.

She said: “I’ve thought about entering a few times, but I’ve always been busy with university work. Now that I’ve finished my Masters, it’s the perfect opportunity.”

She added: “To enter Miss Bolton you have to have lived, worked or been born or educated in Bolton. I’ve done all four.

“I am Bolton born and bred.”

Christina gained 17 GCSEs, including one in Electronics, at Mount St Joseph Business & Enterprise College before receiving a BSc in Science and Football and an MSc in Sports Physiology from Liverpool John Moores University.

Miss Cunningham is raising money for the children’s charity Variety and will be holding a family fundraising night on the 20th February at St Gregory’s in Farnworth, better known as Phoenix Nights, a show she appeared in when she was 8.

Variety was one of the UK’s first charities to be founded especially for children and young people, aiming to give less fortunate children an equal opportunity to reach their potential.

Christina’s previous charity work includes a 128ft abseil down Peel Tower, in Ramsbottom, for Bolton Hospice.

In the 2002 Commonwealth Youth Games Christina won a bronze medal in judo and hopes to stay in the world of sport in the future.

She said: “I want to be a leading sports scientist in the men’s world of football.

“I also want to be a secondary school PE and science teacher.

“I want to show kids it can be a life changing experience to stay in sport at school.”

To support or get in contact with Christina, go to the page ‘Vote Christina Cunningham for Miss Bolton 2015’ on Facebook.

The final will be held on the 1st March at the Last Drop Village Hotel in Bromley Cross and the winner will go on to compete for the Miss England title.