A Londoner is set to become the first Miss Universe Great Britain contestant to wear a headscarf in the competition.
Business account manager Farhia Ali will take part in the final in July, where she will be one of 40 contestants with the chance to represent the nation at Miss Universe.
Ms Ali, who moved to the UK from Somalia as a child, spends much of her spare time doing voluntary and community work both at home and in Kenya.
She said the competition is offering her an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of the UK.
“I feel that now more than ever it is important for women to feel valued in this world," she said.
“Being a woman of colour, I have used this desire to push me to achieve excellence in everything that I do. Moving to Great Britain as a young child provided me with endless opportunities.
“I often travel back to Kenya where most of my family live and seeing the devastation in the rural areas showed me that living in the UK our education, wellbeing and future are prioritised.
“The importance of education has motivated me to want a better education for young women, young mothers and victims of FGM and forced marriages.”
Ms Ali will fundraise for A-Sisterhood, a not-for-profit organisation supporting female-related causes in the UK and overseas.
