An aspiring accountant and keen sportswoman is through to the semifinals of Miss England.

Chloe Walker, a purchase ledger clerk from Bovington, fought off competition to become one of 12 now in with a chance of claiming the prestigious crown.

The 24-year-old moved to Bovington Camp with her family from north Yorkshire last year and says Dorset has become her adopted home.

She said: “Everyone has been so welcoming, I really wanted to do something to help others.”

Chloe initially entered the competition in the hope of becoming Miss Dorset and giving something back to the community she now calls home, but was quickly asked to join the Miss England competition.

She said: “I have always been interested in the whole Miss England, Miss America thing, I’ve always looked up to them and thought they were good role models.

“But, when they asked me try out for Miss England I was really shocked, I didn’t think I was good enough to be Miss Dorset.”

To secure her place in the semifinals Chloe travelled to Leicester where she put her catwalk skills to the test and gave a presentation about her interests and aspirations.

When she’s not working or competing in beauty pageants, Chloe spends her time studying for her degree in maths and statistics and training in the gym four to five times a week.

An avid sportswoman, Chloe practices Olympic moves in the gym, can back squat 90kgs and enjoys a round of golf.

She said: “I just like to keep busy and I do a lot of activities. I really hope people will support me because I am someone who shows that if you work hard, you reap what you sow.”

The 12 Miss England semi-finalists will now have a month to promote themselves in their own areas to gain enough public votes to secure a place in the final next June.

The women will be raising awareness and money for the Miss World Charity, Beauty with a Purpose which supports disadvantage children across the globe.

The judging panel will then choose the most photogenic candidate who has promoted themselves and the charity, with the public vote representing one judge on the panel.

The newly crowned Miss England 2018 will spend the year raising awareness of the charity as well as winning a place in the coveted Miss World competition.

To vote for Chloe text MISS SEMI04 to 63333 before midday on Monday, November 27. Texts cost 50p.