A 26-year-old woman who works in the pharmaceutical industry is hoping to represent Great Britain in an international beauty contest.

Charlotte White from Rickmansworth will be one of around 40 women taking part in the Miss Universe Great Britain 2018 competition in South Wales in July.

It will be the third year she is competing in the competition, which could see her then competing in the Miss Universe pageant and says her determination to win is “stronger than ever”.

She said: “I am really excited to have been chosen as a finalist for Miss Universe Great Britain this year and will be doing all that I can in the next few months to prepare.

“Miss Universe is one of the biggest pageants in the world and I think it’s going to be a huge adventure as well as a lot of fun.”

In the run up she will be tasked with a series of challenges and fundraising for A-Sisterhood– an organisation which supports women across the world succeeding.

This year all money which is raised will be donated to Llamau, a homeless charity in Wales which runs special projects to help homeless women, as well as the National Centre for Female Genital Mutilation which aims to put an end to this crime by 2030

The Stop Acid Attacks in India which helps survivors of acid violence will also be supported along with The Black Mambas - South Africa’s first all-female anti-poaching unit protecting the rhino.

The final, which will take place from July 11 to 14, will involve finalists cooking a three course meal for paying guests at Giovanni’s Cookery School/

National director of Miss Universe Great Britain, Paula Abbandonato, said: “Pageantry in the UK is more popular than ever before and we have the most amazing line-up of young women from England, Scotland and Wales vying for the crown this year.

“It’s going to be an excellent competition and I wish them all the very best of luck.”

The current Miss Universe Great Britain is 26-year-old Anna Burdzy from Leicester.

The Miss Universe is Demi-Leigh Nel Peters from South Africa.