Edgware had an unlikely visitor last week in the shape of Miss United States 2001. And, as a thoroughly smitten IAN LLOYD found out, there is more to her than just a pretty face

Starla Smith is incredibly beautiful, looks great in a swimsuit and if she had one wish it would be for world peace.

No-one could argue she is unworthy of the title Miss United States but despite all of the usual qualities, there is more to Starla than meets the eye.

An A-grade student at high school and with ambitions of taking a marketing degree when she relinquishes her crown, she crushes the myth that all beauty queens are airheads.

Her arrival in London to honour and promote the charity work of the Edgware-based Angels International Au Pair Agency is a well-thought-out move in itself.

Her stay at the agency's base in Bushfield Crescent was also a way of saying 'thank you' to Britain for its support in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"I'm here to show appreciation to everyone in Europe for their support after everything that has happened," said Starla, 20.

"It has brought everyone together. Usually in America you could drive down the road and maybe see an American flag hanging outside somebody's door. Now everybody has an American flag every store is sold out of them. It's just a great show of patriotism."

As Miss United States, which is different to Miss America and Miss USA (who eventually goes onto compete for Miss World), Alabama-born Starla is an ambassador for the Orlando-based Miss US Teen organisation.

She helps raise awareness of children suffering with AIDS and cancer. Her father died of colon cancer when she was 17.

Not surprisingly Starla, who was also Miss United States Teen in 2001, doesn't think beauty pageants are outdated or exploitative an impression given by the recent Hollywood film Miss Congeniality.

"It's a wonderful thing for young women to do. My school is taken care of I don't have to pay my fees and it builds confidence. I get to travel all over the world and get to experience all different cultures.

"It is definitely not sexist at all. The swimsuit competitions are only a small part. It is only 10 per cent and the interview was 40 per cent."

Starla, who is single, also believes her good looks would have taken her only so far.

"Of course appearance is important if you are going to win the competition I think it is important to look good in anything you do.

"It is definitely not the be-all and end-all. It is the way you portray yourself in public. It is nothing to have just a pretty face, you have to be pretty inside and out."

In the current climate Starla could be forgiven her wish for world peace despite recognising it as being a "stereotypical pageant answer".

"I've always wanted to travel and London is somewhere I really wanted to go. But of course I would wish for world peace everybody wants that."

October 10, 2001 17:47

IAN LLOYD