MISS Forest of Dean Amy Brown rubbed shoulders with American superstar Liv Tyler on Ladies’ Day at the Cheltenham Festival, after the film actress winged into the world famous racecourse by helicopter.

And this Saturday, one of the runners and riders hoping to take on Amy’s glamorous title for 2017 will be crowned by the Cinderford beauty.

It’s been a whirlwind year for rugby playing Amy, 23, who will soon start training to be a full-time firefighter after studying Criminology at the University of Gloucestershire.

Last summer she competed in the Miss England semi-finals and had the surprise of her life when long-term boyfriend Ben Jones proposed to her on stage, which she joyfully accepted.

And two weeks ago at Cheltenham, she found herself hobnobbing with US film star Tyler, star of Armageddon, One Night at McCool’s and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

“The opportunities with a title are endless and I really want to stress how passionate I am and have been to represent the Forest,” she said. “Now I am looking forward to the Miss Forest of Dean final and crowning a new woman.”

Five of the finalists warmed up by taking part with Amy in the Miss Forest of Dean sports round on Saturday, March 18, at Ironmasters gym in Mitcheldean, watched by former Miss Gloucester, Liz Hedges, and current Miss Bristol, Savannah Evans.

The girls showed their fitness to don Amy’s crown by taking part in intense exercise routines and tests ahead of April 1’s big night at the Belfry Hotel in Littledean.

Miss Brown said: “We had to warm up on trampolines with personal trainer Frankie Green while Lucy, niece of Ironmasters co-owner Kelly Bluett, interviewed them on how they could be role models to young women and children like her. 

“Then we moved on to an intense team circuit to test the girls on team work, where Kelly, one of the Miss Forest of Dean judges, watched closely to see how they all worked as a team.

“After that were the last women standing circuits! For moral support I joined in too, and this was extremely hard with exercises such as burpees, squats and a sled run.

“Maria Young and Alannah Kingston were determined not to give up even though they were pushed to their limits, so it came down to a tie breaker, where they had to wall squat then sled run with increasing weights.

“This was hard to watch, but after extreme effort from both girls we found a winner in Maria.” 

Miss Brown, who is organising Saturday’s event, said the sports night was such a success they will be teaming up to do it again next year. 

Hoping to be crowned alongside Coleford-based beautician Maria, 25, are 18-year-old university student Allanah Kingston, 17-year-old beauty student Lauren-May Burford, and 18-year-old University of Gloucestershire student Libby Jones, who are all from Cinderford, and 19-year-old Bath University student Georgia Sherwood from Mitcheldean.

Tickets for the Miss Forest of Dean final on Saturday can be reserved by sending an e-mail to [email protected] and must be paid for on the door.