A BASINGSTOKE beauty has proven that she is one of Hampshire’s most talented women during her bid to represent the county at the Miss England beauty pageant.

Nicola Ascroft, of Hargreaves Close, Popley, scooped the coveted Charity Queen Award after raising £2,481 for the pageant's official charity – Beauty With A Purpose – which supports disadvantaged children across the globe.

The 21-year-old beauty therapist and hairdresser also beat off stiff competition to be crowned Miss Talent Queen in the Hampshire contest held at the Alton House Hotel, in Winchester on March 14, after wowing judges with a video of her figure skating.

Nicola also placed second in the Miss Social Media category which saw contestants battle it out to see who could the most amount of likes on their Facebook photo.

And as a result of being the runner-up to the Miss Hampshire crown, the 21-year-old has been awarded the title of Miss Basingstoke and will now battle it out against other contestants at the semi-final stage of this year’s Miss England pageant which will take place at Kelham Hall, Nottingham on July 5.

She told The Gazette: “The whole experience has been amazing and a real eye opener. It is a lot of hard work and requires dedication.

“I did not feel nervous at all really until about three days before the competition when it began to feel more real and more like a competition.

“I am so excited to have earned my place in the Miss England semi-finals. I just need to continue to try my absolute hardest, as I did in the Miss Hampshire competition, and hopefully all of my hard work and determination will pay off and shine through on the evening.”

Nicola added: “As my year begins as Miss Basingstoke, I hope to represent my town and county in any way I can.”