A QUALIFIED psychologist who speaks four languages has been crowned this year's Miss Essex and will take on the nation at the finals of Miss Great Britain next month.
Devon Mayson, 22, from Woodham Ferrers is a country singer, a songwriter and a model and sings part-time at weddings and at children's parties.
The former Anglo European School student is challenging the beauty pageant stereotype having achieved a degree in psychology with neurobiology and she can speak French, German and Russian.
Devon will compete against 49 other girls from around the UK for the trophy which will see her travel the world with other national beauty queens.
"I know that I'm representing Essex, which I am proud of, but I don't look like your typical Essex girl, and I don't own any white stilettos," Devon told the Chronicle.
"To be honest I am a self-confessed geek - I like maths and spider-man."
At weekends she entertains at weddings and at children's parties with party planners Tinkerbella and this year she has raised money for the Rainbows Children's hospice based in Loughborough.
The finals, held at the Athena in Leicester on November 14, will consist of a number of rounds, including a catwalk, a talent round and a fitness round.
And Devon feels that the rounds can represent a beauty queen's true colours rather than just looks.
"Beauty pageants are not only about looks they are about being the most complete person you can be," added Devon.
"There is also a new fitness round, so I need to say a thank you to Club Woodham for helping me get into shape."
Devon entered the competition last year in Coventry but didn't make it through to the national finals until a contestant dropped out.
After only 24 hours preparation, she came eighth after singing one of the songs she had written.
Unfortunately Devon's mum Sharon, who volunteers at St Mary's Church in Woodham Ferrers, and dad Andy had already booked a holiday to the States so will not be able to attend the finals – but her little brothers, Harry, 20, and George 16, may attend.
Devon said: "It's a shame that my parents can't make it. My little brothers may attend though and who would have thought that they would want to see the other contestants in swimsuits?
"But I don't expect to win and the thought of me winning is scary."
Although there was no formal audition, judges assessed entrants for Miss Essex by mass interview over the telephone before deciding the candidate.
Devon has previously sang with all-girl country trio the Wild Blue Roses at the Hammersmith Apollo and as a soloist at the Brownstock festival.
If Devon wins she would be tasked with representing the UK internationally on a world tour with other beauty queens from around the world.
"I love to travel, I always have done, so it would be a dream to be able to travel with some of the other winners," she said.
