A BARMAID has reached the grand final of a national beauty pageant.
Fozila Umurzoqova, 19, is a finalist in Miss Teen Great Britain's 16-to-19 category.
She works part-time at the Prince of Wales pub in Great Totham while studying biology, chemistry and psychology at Colchester Sixth Form College.
Born in Bristol to Uzbek parents, Fozila moved to Great Totham in 2019 and now lives in Heybridge.
Fozila told the Standard: "I've always been interested in the beauty industry, modelling, acting and just being on stage.
"But I never got around to it when I was younger, because I grew up in a very strict Muslim family.
"Those kinds of things were looked down on."
Now she is grown up, Fozila wants to finally break into the modelling industry, alongside some acting work.
She said: "It means I can embrace who I truly am rather than hiding away and pretending to be someone I'm not."
Watching the Netflix series Insatiable reignited her interest.
Fozila said: "That made me think, 'maybe I could do that'."
"I was really shocked to find out that I got to the grand final."
She hopes to become a role model for other girls.
"I want them to embrace themselves, follow their dreams and not be afraid to step outside their comfort zone," Fozila said.
She had considered withdrawing because of the entry fee, before colleagues helped raise money.
"I was going to drop out of Miss Teen Great Britain because I didn't think I'd be able to pay the fee," she recalled.
"But lots of people have helped me and it's really nice of them.
"It's such a big favour they've done for me."
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Head chef Jared Heigham was among the colleagues who raised funds to help Fozila compete.
He said: "Here at the Prince of Wales, we're a really good family.
"If anyone has an opportunity they need to reach for, we're more than happy to help them.
"Foz is a lovely, smiley, happy person and she deserves everything the world can give her."
The winner will be crowned at Blackpool’s Globe Theatre on October 11.
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