A Twickenham student hopes to shatter misconceptions about beauty pageant contestants after reaching the Miss Universe Great Britain finals.

Charlotte Giles, 24, is a straight A student in maths, economics and classics as well as a business development director at Tracie Giles Bespoke Permanent Make Up.

She has also reached the finals of Miss Universe Great Britain, with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend three weeks competing in the main event, watched by 1bn people worldwide.

Miss Giles said: "There is a massively flawed stereotype and misconception about many of the young women who choose to enter beauty pageants but I can tell you that in my experience this couldn't be further from the truth.

"The young women that I have met whilst competing are some of the most inspiring and dynamic people that I have ever worked with.

"To me, being a successful business woman and a beauty queen come hand in hand, the same rules apply to both.

"You have to work incredibly hard, you have to be passionate about what it is you’re doing and you have to strive for perfection in every respect, but do so with honesty and dignity.

"Just like I love the challenge of business, competing in Miss Universe Great Britain pushes me even further.

"It is about being the very best version of yourself and inspiring other young women to empower themselves and achieve to the best of their abilities too."

Miss Giles works at her mother's Knightsbridge-based permanent cosmetics company, while maintaining a strong interest in maths, economics and classics.

But she was confident she would be able to take on the extra workload of competing in American entrepreneur Donald Trump's beauty pageant.

She added: "I’ve always been good at managing my time and I get up extra early every day to fit in the gym and pageant preparation before work.

"I know that if I were to win Miss Universe Great Britain, I will have to work even harder and take my preparation up a notch, but this, without a doubt, is another challenge that I would love the opportunity to be given."

Miss Giles courted controversy last year when she won Miss Hampshire, despite not living in the county.