THE carnival queen for Worcester had been announced ahead of her coronation.

Melanie Eastwood will be crowned at Worcester Carnival on July 2 at 12.30pm by the Mayor of Worcester in the Carnival Village on Pitchcroft.

She will be supported by 13 princesses this year. The committee wanted to include all the applicants, aged 6-8 years old, after they had waited so long since the last event.

Melanie, 36, is married and has two children Jack, aged seven, and Charlotte aged 11.

She works as a night health care assistant with experience in hospital, hospice, domiciliary, dementia and nursing care.

Alongside her job she fills her time volunteering and supporting the community.

She volunteers for Action for Children and Worcester Community Trust where Melanie is involved in a range of projects from arranging community fun days, making puddings for Overs 60s snack and chat to baby and toddler group.

She also fundraises for her children’s schools supporting the PTFA and is currently waiting for checks so she can regularly visit Maggs day centre to help the homeless and support with hand and nail care to prevent risk of sores and infection.

In addition, she is a Tawney Owl with Warndon 4th Brownie group and during the holidays supports support the amazing staff at The Ronkswood hub to put on breakfast clubs for children and their families that may rely on school dinners.

From the age of five Melanie has been involved in Worcester Carnival with the Ronkswood girls band playing the gazoo then drummer to majorette leading the procession through town with good old Mr and Mrs Drew.

When Worcester Carnival returned her community came together and she organised a float that won MP choice award.

Melanie is also in the middle of writing her first children's book about her son as a superhero and his autistic traits are his superpowers this will help people to recognise differences in children and adults and to embrace them.

Melanie said: "I always wanted to be carnival queen but felt that I may not match up to what people may see as typically beautiful, to me that's what the Queen was like out of a storybook.

"I do think it's important to remember that we all come in different shapes and sizes, to accept and embrace ourselves is a beautiful thing.

"If I could teach my daughter anything in life it would be to be happy in your own skin and you always have something to offer no matter what age, size, race, gender, or sexual orientation. We are all worthy and to learn about your own self-worth is very important for your mental health.

"As Carnival queen now, I see a platform that I could use to reach out to my wider community and to support and empower themselves and others to bring back the support we once had and the community spirit that we showed during the pandemic."

Chris King from Worcester Carnival Committee said: "It was obvious from the moment we met Melanie that she had as big a personality as she has heart.

"She is the friendliest person you can meet and is always looking for ways to help out anyone she can. We are absolutely delighted she is our Carnival Queen for 2022 and we are sure she will bring so much joy to the role."