A 32-year-old marketing director is hoping to be crowned the first ever Ms Great Britain.

Shelley Grierson, who lives in Canterbury, will be representing Kent in the final of the inaugural contest, which has introduced a category for women over the age of 27 for the first time.

Miss Grierson, who works for e-commerce consultancy Space Between, says she is proud to be a finalist in the year of such a "massive shift" in the perception of women's beauty.

"This step towards opening it up is amazing," she explains.

"27 is so young and to call that the limit for beauty is just crazy. That's what encouraged me to go for it. I thought it was a really good thing they're trying to do."

Also an avid runner who enjoys exploring the outdoors with her dog, Miss Grierson, who moved to the city earlier this year from Maidstone, says she was encouraged to apply for the title after she met the former Miss Congo through LinkedIn.

'I'm not one of those pageant people' - Shelley Grierson

Before then, she never would have imagined herself entering the contest, let alone becoming a finalist.

Engaged to fiancée Angus, Miss Grierson is getting married in September just a few months before finding out whether she will take the crown home at the 2019/20 final next February.

"I'm not one of those pageant people," she continued.

"I was a little bit scared about it, but I'm excited too. I just need to roll with it, and make it as positive a thing as possible."

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