A beauty queen preparing to study for a PhD is on a mission to end the stereotypes surrounding pageant contests.

Ella Baker-Roberts - who this year was crowned Miss Publicity Great Britain - says there is an unfair stigma attached to those who enter such competitions.

The 23-year-old from Rough Common, near Canterbury, overcame dyslexia to study for a masters degree in biology, and is now applying to take on a doctorate.

She hopes her story will help alter the image most people have of pageant queens.

"I am on a mission to change the stereotypes surrounding pageants," said Ella, who was runner-up in Miss Kent this year.

"Due to films and TV shows, there is a certain stigma placed upon being a pageant girl.

"Having suffered from dyslexia my whole life, I am very aware of what it's like to be placed in a certain box based on assumptions."

Ella says she was advised to leave school at 16, and barred from taking certain A-levels and pursuing a biology degree at university.

Instead, she studied musical theatre.

But determined to pursue a career in conservation, she taught herself enough biology to get onto a Masters course at the University of Kent.

She is now studying conservation and international wildlife trade, and hopes to follow her dream of working at the United Nations.

But Ella says people frequently make presumptions about her decision to take part in beauty pageants.

"I suddenly realised a lot of people do not think I can be both a pageant queen and an academic," she said.

"A lot of people really don't understand. People seem to think I spend my days flouncing around in pretty dresses, not really doing much.

"But in reality, I do a lot of charity work and promoting causes important to me.

"You're working with people who care, and want to work together. It's really beautiful.

"The main thing it gives is a sense of confidence. I'd never done anything like this before, but now I have this platform to accomplish things that are really important to me.

"I want to help inspire the next generation of conservationists to pursue their passions, as well as prove to other young dyslexics that we are not the stereotypes put on us.

"I want to prove to people that you don't have to be one thing - you can be whatever you want to be."

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