BEAUTY queen hopeful Terriann Evans is using her spot in the final of a national pageant to send a positive message to fellow victims of victims of child abuse.

She hopes that doing well in the Miss Galaxy contest on March 10 in Lancashire will demonstrate to others that things do get better.

She explained: “I want to show everybody who are victims of child abuse and survivors that you don’t have to go on and have boring lives. You don’t just have to hide beneath the sheets because you were abused.

“You can spread your wings and do what ever you want to do. There’s nothing stopping you, you are out of that situation.

“It’s difficult but the best thing you can do is move past it, obviously don’t forget that its happened. Be yourself, be happy and live the life you want to live.”

She won a scholarship to the Wilkes College of performing arts but had to give it up due to mental health issues relating to the abuse that she suffered and that was the reason she was eager to compete at Miss Galaxy.

She said: “I do have a lot of stress and anxiety but putting my mind to something else to something I really enjoy and moving forward.

“I lost my dream of dancing but now I have a new dream to look forward too and if I do get through to the finals it will be the best thing that has ever happened to me. I just can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Terriann, who is Ms Swindon Galaxy, has done a number of charity fundraising events including a drive for toys and advent calendars for the children’s ward at Great Western Hospital and the Chalet School which helps children with autism.

She said: “We had money left over from that fundraiser so I got shampoos, deodorants and body washes and donated them to the hospital so patients could have clean baths while in care."

“We also did bake sale and tombola for the Eve appeal raising £137. Charity work as a whole is very important to me but this in particular is quite close to my heart because both my friends' parents have been diagnosed with the type of cancer that they treat.”

She admitted she was nervous about the pageant. “I’m very excited, It’s quite nerve racking but it’s a pleasure to be representing the whole of Swindon.

My title is Ms Swindon Galaxy, so we have to do different rounds, the first round is an opening number and we have to wear read, white or blue to represent the United Kingdom.There’s also a fashion round, a swimwear round and an evening wear round. If I win I get to go to Orlando to compete in the world finals which could led to me being crowned a world champion."

She has been sponsored by Rosella Gowns in Cirencester, which has given her three dresses to wear for the event: “They have been amazing,” she said.