A CHIPPENHAM woman who claimed victory in her first ever beauty pageant will now represent the UK on the international stage.

Becky Heal was crowned beauty queen at the Miss United Continent UK event last month and will become the first person to represent the country at the Miss United Continent finals in September.

“I’d never done anything like this before,” said the 21-year-old.

“I was looking at doing the event and messaged them but I wasn’t overly interested at that time so I didn’t pursue it any further.

“A few months later Victoria Amao [national beauty pageant director] messaged me and asked if I wanted to fill in as someone had dropped out of the final.

“For sure I was surprised when I won.

“The reason why they gave me the title they said was because they could see I was genuine, I was just being me.

“I was just enjoying the evening and I was just really shocked when I won.”

Miss Heal will now compete against other nations at the Miss United Continent final in Ecuador which will be held in September.

“I’m excited but nervous as well, you spend nine days with the other girls from all over the world,” she added.

“I think it’s only just sunk in, I’ve not realised the seriousness of it all and it’s an honour to represent the UK.

“With my life I’ve not really got a set path, everyone said before that you should do modelling and I’ve been having a look into it.

“I work in Chippenham as a carer for people with dementia and I’ve been doing that a few years.

“I do enjoy it and it’s rewarding but it’s not something that I want to do with the rest of my life.

“I’m hoping in the final I get a few more opportunities to do things like modelling.”