MISS Oxford Camilla Chia is determined to prove to Miss England judges that beauty is more than just skin deep.

Sporting a three-inch scar across her belly button as a result of life-changing stomach surgery, the 21-year-old has already overcome bigger hurdles in her life than those that will face her as a competitor in the country’s biggest beauty contest.

The former pupil of Cherwell School endured vomit-inducing sickness almost every day for five years and collapsed twice before doctors could diagnose what was wrong with her.

At the age of 18 it was finally discovered that the Headington-born student was suffering from malrotation of the bowel, a condition that left her intestine twisted 360 degrees and caused such pain that she had to leave school during her A-levels.

Miss Chia said: “The stomach aches started when I was 11, but by the time I was 13 the aches were so bad I started to be sick and it would go on all day long.

“At first the doctors thought I was being sick from the pain of the aches.

“I couldn’t control it.

“I could be out somewhere and then suddenly have to run to the toilet – or be sick in embarrassing places when I couldn’t get to the bathroom in time.

“I thought they would never find out what was wrong with me and I would always be sick.”

Now, just three years after the surgery which gave her back her life, the Oxford Brookes University student says she has regained her confidence by training at the David Lloyd leisure centre in Cowley five times a week.

After going through four hours of surgery at the city’s John Radcliffe Hospital she is hopeful she can add the Miss England crown to the Miss Oxford crown she won in June.

Miss Chia said: "After I had the operation I could never imagine that I’d end up competing in a beauty contest.

“The scar knocked my confidence a lot but going to the gym was a real breakthrough for me because it helped to get my confidence back.

“I’m probably never going to be as confident as when I was younger but I think I have got myself to a point where I couldn’t be more happy.

“It doesn’t matter what other people think about you; it’s how you feel about yourself which is the most important thing.

“If you can tell that someone is really comfortable with the way they feel about themselves that’s really attractive.

“I tend not to think about it that much but when I look at my scar I’m reminded it’s not a big issue anymore and I’m proud of who I am.”

Miss Chia, who has a Chinese father and English mother, will take part in the Miss England finals on September 1 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

  • To vote for the current Miss Oxford as your favourite in the Miss England contest, text Camilla Chia to 81118.