A YOUNG Bideford woman who said she was racially bullied and never seen as the "pretty one" at school is hoping to become Miss England.

Zoiey Smale, 19, is hoping the residents of North Devon will back her in her campaign to become Miss Oxford.

The Miss England competition is an annual beauty pageant targeted at young women aged 17 to 24 years and the winner becomes an ambassador for the country and will take part in the Miss World later this year.

Zoiey, who grew up in North Devon, but is now studying for her degree in clinical physiology at Oxford, entered the competition last year after being dared by her friends.

She reached the semi-finals of the Miss England competition last year and came fourth in the public vote.

Zoiey was unsure whether to try again, but was inspired to enter the competition after finding out at that her nan, who died last year, had also won beauty pageants.

She said: "That's when I knew I wanted to go for it again in 2009 — it was a kind of confidence boost.

"I was never seen as the 'pretty one' at school and numerous times I was bullied for being a different race.

"But, I have always loved seeing the women on television in amazing dresses and make up and I aspired to be like them one day and getting so far last year getting I knew I could achieve something."

Contestants have to raise as much money as possible for charity.

Zoiey said: "I think the Miss England is a good competition as it gives ordinary girls like me a chance to live dreams and give something back to the community.

"I want to be a role model for all the people out there who have been put down, told they can't do something or lost someone close to them to show them that if it can be dreamed, it can be done."

Zoiey believes she can go far in the competition and says she is determined to win.

To vote for Zoiey to become Miss Oxford and have a chance at becoming Miss England text Zoiey Smale to 84205 before May 20.