A beauty pageant dedicated to drag queens is taking place in Folkestone this weekend - with a twist.

Miss Drag UK, set to be held at the Burstin Hotel on the harbour, allows anyone to enter regardless of how they identify, meaning results will not be determined by gender.

It is thought to be the first British charity pageant to do so.

The final will be held tonight, as around 20 drag artists battle it out for the first ever competition crown.

The event, which raises money for SANDS neonatal charity and Dorset Children’s Foundation, incorporates acts from all over the country.

It has been organised by regular pageant competitors Sofia Mayers and Sonja Wilson, alongside their friend Blake Allum who has long been involved in the drag scene.

Mr Allum, 24, who is from the town, said that personality is just as important as presentation: “It doesn’t matter who you identify as - it’s about what you can bring.

“You can be anybody and be able to step up on that stage.”

Talking about gender identity in the competition, Mr Allum feels it is a big step forward.

He said: “Most pageants, if not all, only have straight women. Our motto - ‘positive diversity’ - means we do accept anybody.

“We have women who are drag artists - and a couple of people who are trans, which is great.”

The competition hit headlines in recent weeks when Prime Minister Theresa May publicly offered her support to one of the contestants, Ben Tye.

She sent the young artist ‘fan mail’, including a signed photograph of herself and also tweeted about his fundraising efforts for SANDS.

Mr Allum added: “There has been a lot of support. Seeing a lot of the tabloid headlines show how positive people towards the pageant but I put that down to the queens themselves.”

He believes that while drag performance has become less of a taboo, opportunities are still limited in the county.

He said: “In Kent, there isn’t a huge amount of variety for drag queens to go to, compared to other places. So it’s bringing it to the people of Kent to show we are diverse, and we do stand out.”

The event takes place between 7.30pm and 10.30pm on Sunday, March 10. Tickets are available here.