Miss University Ireland Nicola Hughes backed for Miss Ireland crown

Miss University Ireland Nicola Hughes has stormed to the top of the class with bookies Paddy Power to be crowned the new Miss Ireland.

The sultry blonde is now the 5/1 favourite to win the beauty pageant which takes place in Dublin 4’s swanky Berkeley Hotel this Saturday night.

Original favourite Nasreen Ghaedi, representing the latest celebrity hotspot Bucks Townhouse, has slipped to 6/1 in the betting but is still well fancied with punters.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, told Bettingpro:

“There’s a lot of girls vying for this year’s title but Nicola has taken the lead with our lady loving punters. It’s still very much a wide open race though!”

Other finalists tipped to do well on the night include Laura Scanlon representing Wexford at 11/2, Miss Wright Venue Amy Morrissey at 7/1 and Miss Afterdark.ie Pamela Ryan also at 7/1.

Miss Ireland 2010

 5/1     Miss University Ireland
11/2     Miss Wexford
 6/1     Miss Bucks
 7/1     Miss Wright Group Dublin East
 7/1     Miss Afterdark.ie
 8/1     Miss Louth
 8/1     Miss Tipperary
10/1     Miss Dublin South
10/1     Miss Clare
12/1     Miss RSVP Carlow
12/1     Miss Laois
12/1     Miss Antrim
12/1     Miss Waterford
16/1     Miss Cork
16/1     Miss Kildare
16/1     Miss Kilkenny
16/1     Miss Mayo
16/1     Miss Monaghan
20/1     Miss Galway
20/1     Miss Sunday World
20/1     Miss Cavan
20/1     Miss Longford
20/1     Miss Dublin Central
20/1     Miss Roscommon
20/1     Miss Wicklow
25/1     Miss Limerick
25/1     Miss Down
25/1     Miss Fermanagh
25/1     Miss Offaly
25/1     Miss Tyrone
33/1     Miss Derry
33/1     Miss Donegal
33/1     Miss Kerry
33/1     Miss Meath
33/1     Miss Westmeath