A STUDENT who was diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening condition six years ago is hoping to win over the judges and be crowned a beauty queen.

Nicole Gray is one of 15 women aged between 19 and 29 who are aiming to be crowned Miss Galaxy Scotland at a special event in March next year.

The 22-year-old told the Courier she applied after seeing a friend do the same.

She said: “I saw a friend of mine entering the Irish version of it and I just thought I would enter as well.

“I didn’t really think anything of it and then I got an email saying I was picked as a grand finalist.

“I got an email two or three days ago saying I had been picked and I had applied a month-and-a-half ago.”

Ahead of the pageant, which takes place in Lancashire, Nicole, of Whitehill Gardens, Musselburgh, is doing her bit for charity to try to impress the judges.

She is taking part in two-kilometre runs later year, one in Glasgow in July and the other in Edinburgh in November.

She will also be attempting to raise money for two charities – The Christie, the pageant’s official charity, which is the largest single site cancer centre in Europe, and the Anaphylaxis Campaign.

Nicole was diagnosed with anaphylaxis, an acute allergic reaction to an antigen to which the body has become hypersensitive, in 2010.

She said: “Basically, anything can cause a reaction. The most common things are nuts, fish and milk – we would be here all day if I told you mine, I’ve got multiple.

“It was more difficult to start with and it was quite a big adjustment going from eating whatever you want to being very limited. Even now, it is very difficult – companies don’t make it very easy.

“I have got to be very careful with things like takeaways and fast food and I have got to avoid Chinese and Indian takeaways.

“I’ve got to be careful with restaurants and most of my food at home is made from scratch so we know it is completely safe.”

Nicole, who is studying health sciences through the Open University, initially did not tell her parents she had entered the competition. She said: “I thought there is no point in telling everyone and then having to tell them I was not selected.

“People are quite shocked but they have said it is quite an achievement.”

Nicole, who also wears a tube on her face due to an undiagnosed condition relating to keeping food down, had to send in four photographs to the competition and next year will try to wow the judges to be crowned Miss Galaxy Scotland. Each entrant takes part in four categories – giving an interview, evening wear, fashion and swimwear – before an overall winner is crowned.