WATCH: Inverness's Miss Scotland says the competition 'isn't all about beauty'

This year's Miss Scotland winner has spoken out about the realities behind the scenes, and how 'beauty pageants' shouldn't be stigmatised as 'all about looks', but rather about the charity work and 'what's within'.

Chelsie Allison (26) scooped the title as Miss Scotland last week, where she was up against 11 other women from across the nation.

After competing in the stiff competition for a second time, Chelsie managed to win the crown after intensively working towards her dream of bringing back the Miss Scotland title to Inverness.

Whilst the contest consists of many varied categories, Chelsie was keen to show that the event shouldn't be stigmatised as a 'beauty contest', but more about the work each contestant does for their local communities and chosen charities.

She said: "I think it's an amazing platform for girls to give charities the recognition they deserve as the work that the Miss Scotland organisation does with the girls in the competition throughout and afterwards is amazing.

"It gives girls a really big boost of confidence and shows that it's not all about beauty, but more about the charity work.

"Its not just about what's on the outside, it's what's within as well."

Chelsie supported the Highland Hospice as her chosen charity after two of her family members, who sadly passed away, were taken into the hospice where they received an exceptional standard of care.

She said: "I wanted to give them the recognition they deserve, and I couldn't have picked a better charity for my Miss Scotland journey."

Alongside having the 'privilege' of gaining the title as Miss Scotland, Chelsie was also elated to take the one-of-a-kind crown home to Inverness.

When speaking about representing Inverness after winning the prestigious contest, she said: "I was really proud to have taken the crown home to the Highlands as I think it has been a long, long time since somebody has brought a Scotland title home here."

Despite winning, Chelsie has modestly accepted the honour as she believed the two runners up 'had a better shot' than her.

She said: "I didn't expect it and I really thought the two runners up were going to be the winners to be quite honest, so when they announced it my legs turned to jelly and I had to hold onto the two girls sat next to me."

The Tesco Mobile retail manager – and now Miss Scotland – is set to go on to represent the nation at Miss World in December, spending five weeks in India as she goes up against 126 other girls from across the globe.

However, in the meantime Chelsie plans to continue her work alongside the Highland Hospice and aims to raise as much money for them as possible.

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