FARNHAM teenager Simren Vernon, 18, was runner up in Miss Universe Great Britain last month.

Despite being the youngest competitor, and having no previous pageant experience, Simren had the composure and confidence of a seasoned queen on stage.

Simren (pictured on the right) had to juggle sitting her a A-levels and a part-time job with preparation for the pageant.

She explained how she threw herself “in the deep end because if that’s where I want to go, I don’t see the point in faffing about. I just wanted to get where I wanted to go and it paid off”.

Miss Universe GB is the British qualifier for Miss Universe, the winner goes on to represent the country on the world stage in November.

Growing up, her biggest role model was her mum who was a pageant queen herself, winning the title Miss Malaysia.

Simren has had her mum’s crown in her bedroom since she was a child. She fondly remembers wearing it around the house when she was younger, and dreaming of winning her own.

“Having her crown around really inspired me, and the way she is as a woman, she’s just so driven and motivated” Simren said.

One of Simren’s main motivations for entering the pageant was to become an advocate for young British Indian women. She believes many mixed race teenage girls, like herself, don’t have many role models they can identify with.

She said there is a lack of representation of Indian women in British media to look up to. The pageant has spurred her on to “keep pushing and pushing to get the representation we need in this country.”

Simren revealed to the Herald that she has been struggling with anxiety since a young age and her nerves got the better of her during her initial interview with the pageant organiser. She started a “huge panic attack” and couldn’t get her words out.

Recounting the experience she said: “I was really proud of myself to have even got into the pageant, having such a bad first impression.

“But I proved everyone wrong and I’m really glad the organiser gave me the chance to show the world who I am.”