BRIDGWATER beauty Chloe Gamblin hopes she can inspire confidence in 'curvier' girls after landing the title of Miss Somerset.

Council worker Chloe, 23, was crowned champion at a ceremony in Bristol last night and now goes on to battle it out in the semi-finals of the Miss England beauty pageant next week.

Chloe said she was amazed to come out on top after entering the competition for 'a laugh' but the size-12 now hopes to prove an inspiration after shedding the pounds.

She told the Mercury: “I am absolutely shattered but really pleased - to beat some of the skinnier girls there who really wanted to win is an honour.

“I'm not a size six girl, I was a size 18 at school and I would love to be seen as a role model to kids that get bullied because of their size.

“You don't have to be wafer thin to be beautiful and I hope I have proved that.”

Chloe's natural beauty was enough to convince the judges, including the two previous winners of Miss Britain, of her credentials.

“I never thought I would get this far but I will now be representing Somerset to the whole country which is quite a daunting prospect”, she added.

“All my friends and family are over the moon but it still hasn't dawned on me yet. I'm sure we will all go out and celebrate back home before the semi finals.”