Yahoo News Stokie mum's huge prize win hours after daughter finds out she's £26k richer
A Stoke-on-Trent mum and daughter couldn’t believe their luck as they both won prizes worth a combined £35,000 within hours of each other. Alexandra Maria Dinu, 28, and mum Violeta Cristian, 50, both scooped luxury watches in the same competition.
Warehouse worker Alexandra, who was first to enter, won an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore watch - a favourite of celebrities Justin Bieber and Will Smith worth a whopping £26,000.
Inspired by her daughter’s success in the contst run by online competitions company BOTB, Violeta decided to have a go and found out hours later she had won a Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch worth £9,000. The watch has previously been worn by Tyson Fury and Sylvester Stallone.
Both Alexandra and Violeta, who live in the Potteries, said they were planning to take the cash alternative.
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Alexandra said: “The fact that we both won is absolutely crazy and we’re so excited. I didn’t believe it when it popped up to say I had won, and I had to check with my husband to make sure. I didn’t even know what the prize was initially. I know nothing about watches and had no idea what it was worth.
“When I told my mum I had won, she said she wanted to enter and bought some tickets. It was the first time she had entered, and I told her it was very unlikely that she would win as well. When she found out she was so excited and woke me up to share the news. I couldn't believe it!”
“I’m looking to buy a property, so the money will come in very handy for that," Alexandra added. “My mum wants to do some home improvements and she’s been experiencing some health difficulties, so she’ll use the money to get treatment and help make her day-to-day life a little easier."
BOTB presenter Christian Williams, who only found out they were related when he caught up with Violeta via a video call and found Alexandra on the other end of the phone, said: “A huge congratulations to both for winning these stunning watches.
“I’m usually the one surprising all of our winners with their amazing prizes, but this time it was me who was left in shock when I discovered they were related. If ever there was a case of ‘like mother, like daughter’, this was it!”
BOTB hands over the keys to a car each week as well as a lifestyle prize. Founded by William Hindmarch in 1999, it has given away £67m-worth of cars so far.
