A BEAUTY pageant competitor and mental health campaigner from County Durham hopes to be crowned Miss Great Britain when she takes to the catwalk at the final this month.

Sophie Marie Brown, 24, has already been named Miss Publicity and is one of 53 women set to battle it out in the national competition at the Athena, in Leicester, on Friday, September 14.

The young woman, of Trimdon, struggled as a teenager and at one point tried to take her own life.

Now she is using her story to raise awareness of mental health and hopes her participation in Miss Great Britain will give her a bigger platform to make a difference.

She said: “Miss Great Britain is an amazing platform and I would love to use that platform to grow my charity work and work even harder.

“Mental health awareness is very close to my heart.

"I suffered as a teenager and believe more awareness needs to be brought into schools. "I would love to use my position and my story to make a difference and inspire others to get the help they need and to not hide away like I did.”

Miss Brown, new homes and development manager at Durham's Urban Base sales and lettings, was given the Miss Publicity title for Durham and Teesside in June for her promotion of the competition and her charity work on social media.

She was then judged against the other women who hold the regional title and won the publicity wild card finalist place in the Grand Final.

Encouraged by Miss Great Britain to boost her charity work, Miss Brown took on Snowdon in May for JPC Community Farm and ran the Durham City 5k in July and completed the 3 Peaks Challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours, last month in aid of The Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust and children’s charity Global’s Make Some Noise.

For the latter two charities she also hosted with Aycliffe Radio a quiz and live music night last month at the Hammer and Pincers, near Newton Aycliffe.

“I believe you only have one shot at life so why not be kind, push yourself as much as you can and help those who need it,” added Miss Brown.

“It is so good to be involved in such a system that is not focused on looks it is all about being you and working hard for what you believe in and are passionate about.”