FINISHING second in a county-wide beauty pageant is no mean feat, but for one student at the University of Hertfordshire, it's not enough. Having come runner-up in the recent Miss Hertfordshire finals, 21-year-old Sheila Lynch says she is not giving up on

FINISHING second in a county-wide beauty pageant is no mean feat, but for one student at the University of Hertfordshire, it's not enough.

Having come runner-up in the recent Miss Hertfordshire finals, 21-year-old Sheila Lynch says she is not giving up on winning a place in Miss England 2009.

The English and journalism student has made it into the finals of two more national heats, and plans to go one better this time.

On June 5, Sheila will be in Leicester for the Miss ModelZed finals, and on June 14, she will be battling it out at the Miss East Anglia heat.

"I really want to do better this time," said Sheila. "I really want to keep on going until I'm the best that I can be."

Sheila caught the modelling bug after making it into the final 40 of the Miss Hertfordshire contest.

"I didn't realise how much I would enjoy it," she said.

"I absolutely loved it. I've found something I really like doing.

"You imagine pageants to be full of girls arguing with each other, but all of the girls were really nice and they all had similar interests to me.

"I also had to organise a charity event, so I threw a beach party in the pub I work in.

"It was the middle of April and everyone was walking around in bikinis and trunks. It was brilliant.

"Then there were the girly bits, like getting to wear an evening dress and being on stage.

She added: "Coming second was bitter-sweet, but it's given me the ambition to push myself on.

"I really want to be able to say that I've competed in Miss England, and I'm really going to go for it.