Meet the Portsmouth girl who will battle it out in county's beauty pageant

So Channon Kail is hoping to go that little bit further and clinch the title of Miss Hampshire 2016.

The 20-year-old is one of 16 girls who will take part in the beauty pageant finals next month.

Channon works in the human resources department at Queen Alexandra Hospital and she is studying an access course in social work.

She said: ‘I decided to enter again after I met last year’s winner who told me how empowering it was for people who entered and that’s something I needed in my life.

‘I feel I would be a good representative for my county as I am a genuine girl with a caring nature who is willing to give 110 per cent for something that I believe in.’

Channon has already raised more than £2,000 for various charities this year, and she has chosen to raise funds for Hannah’s Holiday Home Appeal, which provides holidays for families with children suffering terminal illnesses.

Channon, from Portsmouth, said she feels that beauty pageants often get a bad press and she’s hoping to be seen as a role model to younger girls.

She said: ‘I feel there is a stigma around beauty pageants and I would like to change that.

‘Beauty pageants – Miss England especially – is an amazing organisation highlighting the amazing things that young men and women achieve.

‘Being in a beauty pageant is not something that should be seen as vanity but a life-changing experience making a difference to not only the contestants lives but those who benefit from the hundreds of thousands of pounds that the organisation has helped to raise.

‘I would love to be a role model for young women and empower them to enter pageants.’

The finalists will take to the catwalk at Alton House Hotel on March 12 to compete for the regional title.

They will be judged on a series of rounds, including the David Freeman photography round, which took place at the weekend – looking at the girls’ modelling techniques.

The winner will then become the county’s representative at the Miss England final in Southport on July 20 and 21, competing against 50 regional winners from across the nation for the crown and the first prize worth £25,000.

Former Miss Hampshire Grace Levy, from Titchfield, won Miss England and even went on to clinch the title of Miss Universe – Great Britain in 2014.

The public can also have their say in the Miss Hampshire popularity round. To cast a vote go to missengland.info/regionals/hampshire before 5pm on Saturday, March 12.