Seaton carnival 2012. The Seaton Carnival queen for 2012. Picture by Alex Walton. Ref mhs 0125-36-12AW. To order your copy of this photograph, go to www.midweekherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24

Colyton Grammar School student steps into the limelight to fill sudden vacancy in Seaton’s carnival royal family.

Victoria Synek Herd made an unexpected debut as Seaton’s Carnival Queen last week - after stepping into the role at short notice.

The year 9 Colyton Grammar School student took on the crown when initial queen Annemarie Langworthy stood down.

Victoria looked very regal on Seaton’s big night, when it hosted the first carnival of the illuminated season.

Her main hobby is drawing, along with painting in watercolour and illustrating.

Last year she designed and completed the stage scenery ‘flats’ for the Seaton pantomime, Dick Whittington, and she has also designed posters to help advertise local businesses. One featured a little girl with lollipop for Sweet Heaven in Fore Street.

Victoria very much prefers to work behind the scenes and out of the limelight, so stepping into the carnival queen’s shoes took a lot of courage.