A former Commonwealth Games athlete has become the first black woman to win Miss Universe Great Britain in its 66-year history.

Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers, 25, from Birmingham, took the crown after competing in the beauty pageant in Newport.

The law graduate, who is originally from the Caribbean island of Anguilla, will now take part in the Miss Universe 2018 competition.

She has represented Anguilla twice in the Commonwealth Games, and was named Miss Anguilla 2017.

Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers, 25, has become the first black woman to win Miss Universe Great Britain in its 66-year history

 

The law graduate (picture centre) will now represent Great Britain at Miss Universe 2018

 

Dee-Ann thanked her fans for their ‘love and support’ after her victory in the beauty pageant.

The beauty queen said: ‘I have always wanted to use my life to make an impact and to contribute and I will be using the title of Miss Universe Great Britain to encourage women to believe in themselves and to forge ahead with their dreams.

‘The UK is a multicultural society and I am proud to represent its ideals of tolerance, diversity, beauty and feminism.’

As well as winning the Miss Universe GB title on Saturday, Dee-Ann – who completed her law degree at Birmingham University – is set to qualify as a barrister this month.

Dee-Ann has represented Anguilla twice in the Commonwealth Games, in the 400m and the heptathlon (above in 2014)

 

She has also competed twice in the Commonwealth Games, running in the 400m in India in 2010 and competed in the heptathlon in Scotland in 2014.

Dee-Ann was one of 32 contestants who took to the stage to compete for the Miss Universe GB crown.

The pageant, which has been running since 1952, decides who will represent Great Britain in the Miss Universe competition.

Paula Abbandonato, national director for Miss Universe Great Britain, said: ‘I could not be prouder of Dee-Ann and all that she represents.

‘She is an exceptional role model for women of all skin colours and embodies all the qualities of the Miss Universe ideal.’

Dee-Ann thanked her fans for their ‘love and support’ after her victory in the beauty pageant

 

The law graduate, who is originally from the Caribbean island of Anguilla, was named Miss Anguilla 2017

 

Dee-Ann – who completed her law degree at Birmingham University – is set to qualify as a barrister this month