A mum-of-two who was once homeless says entering a UK Miss Swimsuit competition has changed her life.

Shannon Johnson, who lives near Gillingham High Street, was recently crowned Miss Congeniality and is now set to compete in the finals of Miss Swimsuit, a woman-empowering event.

However, the 26-year-old has said where her life is now seems a million miles away when she was diagnosed with bipolar at 17 years old.

Shannon explained: “If someone said to me this time last year that I’d be in the finals of Miss Swimsuit UK I would have laughed and said no way, it’s so surreal and I’m so grateful for this life I have now.

“I’ve come from some dark places. I’ve been homeless and suffered with my mental health so Miss Swimsuit is extra special to me because it also supports the charity Get Fit 4 Mental Wellness.

“The organisation helps people work with the mind, body and spirit, through physical and emotional well-being to improve their mental wellness and that of others.”

Shannon, who is mum to four-year-old Parker and eight-month-old Marnie, had a tough time in her teens.

She said: “I was a bit of a naughty kid, so I didn't really get on well at home.

“I ended up moving in with my dad but I rebelled a lot at my dad's as well.

“So I was taken into care but no foster carers would take me. So I was placed into B&Bs and shared houses but I was kicked out of most of them and in the end it resulted in me being homeless for three years.

“I wasn’t on the streets but I'd be sofa surfing, I never actually had a home for myself.”

In the end, her mum, Donna, took her in for seven months but suddenly Shannon’s dad, Brian, passed away at 42 from an unexpected heart attack.

This led to her leaving her mum's house.

Shannon said: “I was sofa surfing again until I had my first child, Parker, at 21.

“That is when everything changed. It is why I say he saved me from the darkest place of my life.”

Shannon struggled to fit in and find a place to stay when she was younger due to her mental health.

She said: “I could either be manic or angry and my episodes can last from a couple of hours to months.

“Bipolar is unpredictable and you don't know what is going to trigger it.

“That is why I seemed to be rebelling and it's why I couldn’t find a place to live for so long.”

Shannon had always been interested in modelling but the time never seemed right.

After settling down following the birth of her son, Shannon decided to apply for Miss Swimsuit when she spotted the competition on social media.

She said: “When I finally got to a good stage in my life I decided to apply for the competition and was shocked when they said I was in.

“There are two heats which are the first rounds before the final. I attended the Essex one on April 19.

“There were about 18 girls taking part in it and there are three rounds and a catwalk section that takes place so the judges can see what women are best to go onto the finals in Manchester on June 24.

“At the end of the competition, there are three titles up for grabs, Miss Social Media, Miss Photogenic and Miss Congeniality – the crown I was awarded because of my kindness to others throughout the completion. It was a big experience.”

If Shannon wins the final later this year she then has a chance to compete in the worldwide Miss Swimsuit competition.

She added: “I was so nervous beforehand. I was crying backstage but one of the other women was so kind to me and really supported me. As soon as I hit that red carpet it was just amazing.

“There is a lot of stigma around pageant contests like this but Miss Swimsuit UK has been so supportive.

“You'll see there's every type of woman there and It's all about empowering women and that is one of the biggest things that we do.

“There's never a woman looking at another one in a funny way. We're all there for each other.

“I've never felt like I belonged somewhere and since joining Miss Swimsuit UK it’s like I have a family.”