A beauty pageant hopeful is hoping to put a history of bullying behind her as she competes for an international title.

Jill Fogg has been branded “fat” and received criticism for measuring in at just 5ft while an ex-boyfriend told her to “chew on a knife and die.”

The dental nurse, from Maidstone, could compete on the global stage of the Empress Pageant competition this summer if she is successful in the southern heat on Saturday in Southampton.

The 27-year-old has worked tirelessly to raise money for churches and charities and hopes her determination to silence her critics can help her this weekend.

She said: “I had been bullied throughout my life. When I was younger it was never anything serious and it was just name calling.

“I was a bit of a tomboy and I wasn’t really a girly girl. I trained as a mechanic at the time as well.

“I thought I would go for a pageant in 2010 as I didn’t have many girlfriends at the time. On the day all the girls were so nice.

“I was doing charity work and when you have a sash and a title more people want to work with you. I didn’t have much confidence and I wasn’t in it to win it. I just wanted to be a part of something.”

Miss Fogg moved to Maidstone from The Wirral in December 2016 to move in with her then boyfriend, but after they split up she became the victim of harassment.

She also revealed a number of comments were made about her on social media while her own family struggled with words of encouragement.

Miss Fogg, who works for Fresh Dental Care, said: “I started going to church and was getting called a bible basher.”

“When you’re behind a computer screen it is easier to bully someone,” she added.

Miss Fogg also raises money for charities and helps secure raffles prizes, two of which are a signed Maidstone United shirt and a dental hygiene bundle and will decide when to give them away.