Stunning Shanna Bukhari, 24, is fighting for the right to fly the Union Jack flag at the beauty pageant final in Brazil.

And she has no qualms about entering the contest — which includes the traditional bikini round.

The English Literature graduate said: "I want other girls from Muslim communities to feel they can do this.

"Muslim girls don't enter competitions like this because Islam does not permit it but there is so much more to it than looking pretty. Especially with concerns about her posiing in a bikini swimsuit.

"My family are right behind me and I have had support from many others on Facebook - including friends who wear headscarves - after I set up a campaign."

Shanna, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, got through to the British final after qualifying from Miss Universe Asiana, a competition for Asian girls living in the UK.

But she admits her decision to enter the contest has attracted criticism from some members of the Muslim community.

She added: "Three men wrote on Facebook that they would not support me because what I was doing was sinful.

"They said I should rot in hell. That was because of my religion - but they contradict themselves by going out clubbing at the weekend so I just stayed quiet.

"It makes me even more determined to enter the competition. I want to encourage Muslim women who want to do things like this to go for it.

"This is my passion and I want others to follow my example. It is not all about appearance and something like this can only be good for the country."

Shanna is one of 60 women in the British final which will be held in Birmingham in May.

The winner will go on to the main event, the final of Donald Trump's Miss Universe, which will be held in Sao Paulo on September 12.

Paula Abbandonato, national director of Miss Universe GB, said: "It's good to see that our Miss Universe Great Britain final this year will reflect the multi-culturalism of modern British society.

"Girls from all corners of the country, from a variety of different backgrounds and cultures will all get an equal chance to represent Great Britain at Miss Universe.

"The international finals of these big beauty pageants bring together more countries than any other world event and it's great for the UK to be a part of the celebration."

The current Miss Universe is Mexico's Ximenta Navarrete.