A Fife teenager is looking forward to a glittering year after being crowned Miss Teen Galaxy.

Seventeen-year-old Emma McInnes from Cupar swept aside stiff competition from girls across the globe in the competition in Florida.

The title makes her the first Scottish girl to win an international beauty contest in over 20 years.

Emma said: “The girls I was against were gorgeous and they were from America where they’ve been competing since they were four years old.

I’ve been competing in pageants for less than a year, so it was amazing. When my name was called out I fell to the ground and I was crying – I was really dramatic.

We didn’t expect to win, we just went over for the experience”.

Fitness instructor Emma was urged to pursue a modelling career by her grandmother.

Emma said: “My Gran was a beauty queen when she was younger, so she’s definitely been a role model to me - she’s given me a lot of confidence and advice.

“In the modelling industry they look for 5ft 8”, size zero models – and I’m 5ft” and a size ten so I don’t really fit in there but hopefully someone will take me on.”

It is hard to believe but Emma endured years of bullying at school. Now she is hoping to use that experience to help others going through a similar ordeal.

She said: “It was a very hard time. Their (the bullies) reason was that I had tanned skin.

“With my title now, I want to raise awareness about bullying because some people think it doesn’t happen that often, but trust me, every school has a bully.”