Helen Morgan to judge Miss Wales 2004
After a 30 year absence, Helen Morgan – Miss Wales and Miss World 1974 – will return home to Wales next week to judge Miss Wales 2004.
Helen is one of only two Welsh women to have ever won the Miss World title. Only one other British woman (Sarah Jane Hutt 1983) has taken the coveted crown since Helen’s win 30 years ago.
Her involvement with the Miss Wales 2004 final will mark her first public appearance in Wales in 30 years, following a short-lived reign of only four days in 1974 as Miss World after revealing she was the mother of an 18-month-old son.
Helen’s return to Wales – from her home in Spain – is the result of a campaign by this year’s competition organisers to mark the 30th anniversary of the only Welsh win at Miss World.
Event organiser, Paula Abbandonato of Vibe PR, said: “We reached Helen through an open letter which was published in the Barry & District News. We knew that she had originally come from the Vale of Glamorgan, and took a chance that friends and family would read the piece and get in touch. We are absolutely delighted with the outcome.”
Competition sponsor, Harryono Judodihardjo, of Cellite Ltd, added: “Ultimately, our aim is to bring the Miss World crown back to Wales. There is only one Welsh woman who knows how to do that, and that’s Helen Morgan, so we are thrilled she’s going to be involved.”
Helen said: “It is a real pleasure to come home to Wales to mark the 30th anniversary. No doubt being part of this year’s competition will bring back many memories for me.”
The Miss Wales 2004 final will take place at Jumpin Jaks, Swansea, on Thursday 9 September. Helen will take her seat on the judging panel along with Harryono Judodihardjo, proprietor and medical director of Cellite Ltd who is chair of the judges; Sarah Cornelius, Welsh Woman of the Year; S4C’s fashion presenter Huw Rees; Pop Idol finalist and Eurovision Song Contest singer Jessica Garlick; and Ceri Gould, assistant editor of the Western Mail.
Twenty-four girls from all over Wales will compete for the title, which will result in a prize package of holidays, clothes and other goodies.