Beauty hopeful in race against time as father fights cancer

Sara McLean with her dad Colin

But what most of the crowd watching her do not know is the heartbreak which the 20-year-old beauty queen is hiding.

Her father Colin is facing a race against time to watch his daughter compete in the final of the UK competition in December.

The 57-year-old was given three months to live in April.

Sara, from Newington, beat off competition from dozens of young hopefuls across the city to be crowned Miss Edinburgh 2010 earlier this year. But her joy has been tempered by the trauma of dealing with her dad's terminal lung cancer.

Sara, a former St Margaret's schoolgirl, said: "We discovered he was ill just before Christmas 2009 and when I first found out I went a bit off the rails. It totally knocked me and I was very upset about it. But, as he says, that's life and he has drawn the short straw."

Months of chemotherapy failed to contain the tumour but the resilient father-of-two is now being treated with medication to halt its progress. Despite being divorced, Sara's mum has quit her job to care for Mr McLean.

"He's still here today which is a miracle," said Sara.

"He is the strong one in the family so seeing him deteriorate has been very difficult for everyone. Obviously I would love him to see me in the Miss Great Britain final but I know my dad is so proud that I have even got this far so no matter what happens he will be happy for me."

The 5ft 10in beauty, who has previously enjoyed media exposure in a popular lads' mag, will vie for the national title against 60 others at a prestigious bash at the Grand Pier at Weston-Super-Mare on December 4.

The Napier Univeristy student, who is studying marketing with Spanish, said winning the Edinburgh heat was "one of the best moments of her life" and is itching to strut her stuff in the grand final.

"I didn't expect to win Miss Edinburgh at all," she said. "It was one of the best feelings I have felt for a very long time. It gave me such a confidence boost and the happiness stretched out over days.

"Becoming Miss Great Britain is my dream and something I have always wanted. I do get scared sometimes and think 'can I really do this?' but on the other hand I get really excited too."

Sara will have to design and create her own union jack dress before the show finale in December where a panel of judges will assess the contender's catwalk skills, modelling prowess and attitude.