MISS IRELAND UNIVERSE 2010, CON SELLO COLOMBIANO

By Melanie Finn
Friday July 16 2010

SHE hasn't even gone to Las Vegas yet but new Miss Universe Ireland Rozanna Purcell has already stolen the edge on her rivals.
The 19-year-old beauty has been selected from nearly 100 other girls to receive special training ahead of the final next month, as well as a bespoke wardrobe of designer dresses.
The Herald can reveal how the UCD student has been chosen by top pageant coach Miguel Martinez to be flown to Colombia.
"He has offered to sponsor me in the pageant and fly me over to South America before the contest starts and give me a week-long course in every aspect of competing in beauty pageants," she explained.
"This is the first time an Irish girl has been chosen for this and it's a huge confidence boost for me.

Potential

"He found me on the Miss Universe website and thought I had a lot of potential so he contacted Andrea (Roche) and asked if I would be interested in working with him. This is the first time he has sponsored a girl from Europe.

"Obviously, if I do well, it makes him look good, but it's a huge honour and will obviously give me a way better chance. He's going to teach me lots of things about competing in pageants and he's also offered to make me up some dresses especially for the contest."

Rozanna will fly to Colombia on July 22 to meet Martinez.

She'll then fly to Las Vegas for the start of the Miss Universe event, with the final at a star-studded ceremony at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas on August 23.

The stunning brunette will battle it out with nearly 100 other beauties from all around the world as she competes for the coveted crown.

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/rozanna-boosted-by-offer-from-top-coach-2261496.html