Glam cop, 24, who has NEVER modelled before bidding for a place in Miss England finals

FabulousReal Life A POLICE officer is trading body-worn cameras for bodycon dresses as she bids for a place in the Miss England finals. PC Tara Sampson, 24, has spent a year with Greater Manchester Police, but now hopes to make an arresting sight as a beauty queen. PC Tara Sampson is trading body-worn cameras for bodycon dresses as she bids for a place in the Miss England finals Credit: SWNS Tara has spent a year with Greater Manchester Police, but now hopes to make an arresting sight as a beauty queen Credit: SWNS She said: “Being a police officer means having to be out of your comfort zone almost every day because of the situations you can face. You always have to have your wits about you. “So, I think there are some transferable skills I can take into pageantry.” Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! Tara, from Chorley, Lancs, hopes to qualify as Miss North West. And if she wins that, she will go on to compete for the title of Miss England. She has never modelled or taken part in a beauty pageant before and said she was “really shocked” to get this far. Tara said: “I just thought ‘why not?’ and I went for it. “I really enjoyed being able to get out of my big heavy uniform and get glammed up because at heart I am a very girly girl.” She said the pageant’s motto, “beauty with a purpose,” sealed the deal, allowing her to raise cash for good causes. Most read in Fabulous Tara, from Chorley, Lancs, hopes to qualify as Miss North West Credit: SWNS Tara said: ‘I just thought ‘why not?’ and I went for it’ Credit: SWNS And she admits her year in the force has been the toughest job she has ever done mentally and physically. Before joining the police, Tara worked in a prison and said that women are naturally good at talking people down — in either job. She reckoned: “I can adapt and speak to all different kinds of people, whilst making a ­difference, all whilst embracing femininity.” The North West Beauty Awards take place in Salford on September 26. At least three people will be chosen to ­represent the region at the Miss England grand final in Leicester on November 17. Miss England director Angie Beasley said: “The North West has an incredible track record in Miss England, producing ­outstanding finalists who have gone on to achieve great success internationally. “So to add a police officer in to the equation would be ­something else.” Comment now