DILANI Selvanathan wants to beat the bullies as she aims to reach the final of Miss England after winning the Miss Popularity 2019 title.  

Dilani, 19, from Northolt, was born in the UK to Sri Lankan parents and is a software engineering apprentice.

“The reason I decided to take part is because of my insecurity and to help others get through theirs,” she said.

“I have eczema which means I have dry and dark skin in multiple areas and also have to stay away from the sun to prevent the skin from getting worse.

“I also have multiple scars and a massive burn mark on my body and, because of this, I was bullied at school.

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“I was bullied for multiple reasons: the way I looked, the things I wore, the way I spoke, my race and for doing really well in class. This lowered my self-esteem.”

At 13, she became an ambassador for a charity called BulliesOut, doing presentations and attending fund-raising events.

Away from the catwalk, Dilani plays football, is a second dan Black belt in Taekwando and is a former air cadet.

The Miss England finals take place on July 31.