MISS Hampshire, Isobelle Cooper, faces one of her biggest challenges yet, as she enters the Miss England Competition next month.

The beauty pageant winner has had to overcome crippling anxiety and now she prepares to compete in one of the biggest beauty pageants in the country.

At its worst, Isobelle was too afraid to leave her house and couldn’t go to school.

She was so scared of becoming ill that she was unable to leave the house.

However, she said through pageantry her confidence grew and she was able to overcome her anxiety.

But the 20-year-old still dislikes speaking in public, even though she has hosted numerous charity events, raising more than £50,000.

“When I was in school, I used to pretend that I had lost my voice when they asked me to speak in front of the class.

“I absolutely hate public speaking and for me to stand up on stage and do it would be a huge personal achievement.”

Isobelle, who works as a hairdresser at E’clips Hairdressing salon in Townhill, hopes Hampshire residents will get behind her in her quest to become Miss England.

“I really want to put Hampshire on the map. As far as I am aware, no one from Hampshire has won Miss England. It would enable me to raise so much more money for charity,” she said.

For the competition, which will take place in Birmingham on July 14, Isobelle has had to create an outfit from recycled materials and showcase her talent, for which she has performed a swing-dancing video.

If Isobelle wins Miss England she will be entered into Miss World, to be held in China this November.

“I would really like to win, but I am trying to be realistic – if I could even make it into the top five, where I would have to answer an on-the-spot question from the judges, then I would be really happy,” she said.

To vote for Isobelle text ‘MISS ENGLAND18’ to 63333, texts cost 50pm plus your standard network rate.