Travel agent by day, songstress by night – that’s Kinloss-based Emma Wilby’s life.
In April, the 27-year-old took on a rather different role from her work at Thomson’s Elgin branch, in north Scotland.
Emma was named godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas after winning a hard-fought competition run by Travel Weekly and the cruise line, and took to the stage in a dazzling dress to sing at the ship’s naming ceremony.
Alongside her travel agency role, Emma juggles working as a dramatherapist – a form of psychotherapy – with singing in the Kinloss Military Wives Choir (her husband, Stephen, is in the Royal Engineers), being stepmum to six-year-old Savannah and, now, an ambassador for Anthem.
“Being godmother to Anthem is a lifetime commitment, which is a huge honour,” says Emma, whose family’s shipbuilding heritage was part of the reason she entered the competition.
“I had never been on a cruise before the ceremony and I have become a real convert. It has been brilliant to talk to customers about it first-hand. I am loving batting away any misconceptions people have.”
At her branch, Emma is making the most of her new role in other ways – during a cruise evening in September, she will once again don her ‘godmother dress’.
Before that, though, it’s back to the spotlight for the passionate songstress, who will perform at Travel Weekly’s Agent Achievement Awards on July 7.
“I can’t wait to experience it again,” she says. “Last time it was incredible, but I do get stage fright and quite nervous.
“Once the adrenaline rush strikes, I really enjoy it.”
Emma will meet Craig Yates, team captain from British choir group Only Boys Aloud, for some vocal coaching towards the end of the month, as she did before her inaugural performance.
“I am constantly rehearsing with the choir,” she says.