CHEERLEADING coach Natasha Barker had plenty to celebrate when she finished in the top 10 of the Miss Blackpool 2018 beauty pageant.

The 30-year-old Royton stunner was the oldest contestant in the parade of 20 girls but that did not prevent judges picking her out among one of the most charismatic on stage at the Paradise Room in Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Natasha, a former pupil St Anne’s CE Primary School and Crompton House, was the last holder of the Miss Oldham title in 2015.

She has brains as well as beauty, holding a first class honours degree in childhood studies from Huddersfield University.

As a European pom dancing champion, she runs her own cheerleading club, called Air Athletics, and enjoys “teaching children transferrable life skills”.

“It was a really enjoyable event,” said Natasha, who also acts as a ring card girl at boxing events. “People think pageants are really catty, but they’re not at all.

“I split up with my partner recently and doing well in the competition gave me a bit of a confidence boost. It was really nice to be surrounded by supportive girls.”