This year’s Miss Brighton has been crowned and is on a mission to prove you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

Rebecca Kite, 24, had never considered entering a pageant like this before but last year went along to the casting for Miss Brighton 2017 with a friend.

“I just decided to get involved,” she said. “It seemed like a bit of fun and before I knew it I had been put through to the finals.

“Not only did finish in the top eight but was also awarded the Miss Charity sash, I couldn’t believe it.”

In her day job, Peacehaven resident Rebecca is a bus driving instructor for Brighton and Hove Buses, so had to fit her new Miss Charity status around her work, attending events where she could.

This year, the contest has been led by the Miss Great Britain website and is run in a completely different way.

Rebecca explained “The 2018 contest was via an online application, rather than attending a pageant.

“It’s so much better that way as I was interviewed more about the kind of person I am, rather than how I look.

“I had the chance to really put my personality across and, even now, it still surprises people when I tell them I teach people to drive buses.”

Rebecca was successful with her online entry and was announced online as the new Miss Brighton earlier this month.

She said: “There wasn’t a crowning ceremony this year, sadly, but I am now a Miss Great Britain contender and have been invited to a masterclass in August.

”It’s all about learning what is required of us as contestants and what to expect at the final, which takes place in September in Leicester.”

Keen to keep her hand in with charity work, Rebecca is set to abseil down the i360 on Brighton seafront for Global’s Make Some Noise, a charity which fundraises for smaller projects supporting children with illness, disability or lack of opportunity.

She said: “I’m not much of a daredevil but I really want to do this, it’s happening on July, 7 and I just want to raise as much money as possible.”

Rebecca describes herself on of the “most Brightonian people you could meet” and loves everything about the city.

Her favourite landmark is West Pier and she even has the image tattooed on her left ankle.

She said: “I look at how short life is and think you should make the most of it and do what makes you happy.

“People spend too much time worrying about what others think, making yourself happy is what’s important.

“If I’m feeling low, I often go and sit and look at the West Pier and think if that is still standing after all it’s been through, then I should be the same.”