Ruth is real dancing queen
A dance student who says she was bullied at school has found the confidence to become Kidderminster's Carnival Queen.
Ruth Keenan, aged 18, a second year student at Kidderminster College beat off strong competition from nine other hopefuls. She splits her time between dancing and the gym and hopes to go on to university and become a personal trainer.
After winning the title at a competition staged at Kidderminster Town Hall yesterday Ruth told how she used to lack confidence because of name-calling as a young girl but gradually built up her courage through her love of dancing.
She added: "It was the last year I would be eligible to enter the competition and so I decided to have a go. It was amazing. I never thought I could actually win anything and I am really looking forward to my carnival year."
Another dancer, Daisy Ware, aged 11, took the Princess title in another closely-fought contest featuring 26 contestants.
Earlier in the day school friends Leila Robinson and Katie Mann, both aged six, became this year's Rosebuds.
