BY NUALA MCALOON

Miss Earth Enniskillen Leanne McCullough fought off stiff competition this week to secure her place in the UK final for the title of Miss Earth Northern Ireland 2009. It will take place in London on the 22nd August.

The 19-year-old Omagh woman joined 12 pageant semi-finalists at the Black Box in Belfast to compete for selection.

The eco-friendly fashion show was staged in Belfast where Leanne, a full-time administrator for Strathroy Dairy, showcased fashions from some of the region's most chic independent and high-street fashion retailers.

As well as her office job, Leanne has been working as a model for Converse Models for a year and when she heard about the Miss Earth pageant, she thought it would be a great opportunity to promote the environmental issues important to her.

Passionate about global warming and climate change, as Miss Earth Enniskillen she hopes to encourage the community to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

The international eco-inspired pageant is run by Converse Models, and is a modern take on the traditional beauty contest as it adds an environmental awareness twist.

Leanne was selected as Fermanagh's eco-beauty at the competition's regional heat in Enniskillen.

ENVIRONMENT

At the heats the contestants displayed their environmental concern and ambition to preserve and protect the environment.

"I had entered a Converse competition before," Leanne explained, "so I thought I would give this one a go as well. It appealed to me because it is not just another beauty competition, but it also has more of a meaning to it."

During the contest, each semi-finalist presented a personal environmental message to the crowd on issues close to their heart.