Leora Judah is happy to advise anyone wishing to follow in her footsteps as last year's carnival princess.

'If you enter and are chosen for the final selection procedure, make sure you present yourself as confident, speak clearly and prepare what you want to say beforehand,' says Leora, a 13-year-old Finchley resident.

Leora was a princess at last year's Pentland Finchley Carnival which takes place annually at Victoria Park in Ballards Lane.

'I remember watching the Christmas lights in Brent Cross being switched on by the Mayor of Barnet Jack Cohen and asking shoppers for donations towards his charity appeal ,, Barnet Cancer Care Young Families Appeal,' says Leora who recalls numerous other events she has had the opportunity to attend since the carnival itself in July last year.

If you want to be a queen, you must be aged 16 or over and princesses must be aged between eight and 12-years-old. You must be available on June 10 for a final selection day and throughout the carnival, from July 12-15 and be prepared to carry out other duties.

The queen gets £100 and each princess is given £50 prize money every year courtesy of The Times Group and Leora, who is a keen dancer in her spare time, adds: 'I put my £50 in the bank and I was given a silver necklace, a McDonaldÍs Happy meal voucher and my own carnival outfit.

'I was loaned a silver cup with my name engraved on it which will be passed on to this year's princess.'

The entires have already been coming in for the competition and there are only a few weeks left to send in yours. Entries should be received no later than May 24.

So if you you think you have got what it takes to be a carnival queen or princess, send a good, clear photograph of yourself, complete the coupon on this page, and post them to us at: Pentland Finchley Carnival Competition, The Hendon Times Group, 71 Church Road, Hendon, London, NW4 4DN.

smills@london.newsquest.co.uk

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