Danielle Evans becomes Miss Brighton 2021

Danielle Evans has been crowned for the year after a virtual selection process.

The 24-year-old social media marketing executive from Rottingdean hopes to show the best side of Brighton and Hove.

She said: “I want to break the stereotypes of women who enter pageants and women who compete in sport.”

The most remarkable thing about her is perhaps the fact that she was born prematurely after 26 weeks of her mother’s pregnancy.

She was given just a five per cent chance of survival.

Danielle Evans, 24, is Miss Brighton 2021

It has caused her health problems such as asthma and lung difficulties requiring regular hospital treatment, and she also had to battle cognitive brain difficulties as a child.

Her conditions mean she is at high risk from coronavirus and has had to shield herself at home during the lockdowns.

So Danielle is proud to have achieved two degrees, and said she started playing rugby when she studied fashion photography at Southampton Solent University.

She then studied her masters degree in digital marketing at Brighton Business School.

Danielle Evans, 24, is Miss Brighton 2021

But because of her vulnerability due to the pandemic, she says just keeping in touch and checking in with people is the biggest challenge for the time being.

She said: “For the moment there are a lot of people who are high risk and scared, so everyone being able to stay safe and look out for each other is really important.

“When restrictions are lifted I’d like to help bring communities together, take part in more events and support small businesses to bring some positivity back to Brighton.”

Previously she attended the Miss Great Britain last February and promoted the “Try Me” rugby campaign to encourage more women to play the sport.

Before Christmas she joined the Horsham Ladies rugby team and said she has been missing her friends there.

Danielle Evans, 24, is Miss Brighton 2021

Danielle said: “I have always been a big fan of rugby, and I’m looking forward to getting back to training.

“I entered the contest because quite a lot of people have negative assumptions about beauty pageants, and they have assumptions about female rugby players.

“Pageantry is evolving and becoming more diverse. I am not stick thin, I am a plus sized, curvy woman, and for me it is a real honour to represent the city I love so dearly.

Danielle Evans, 24, is Miss Brighton 2021

“Brighton is so unique and is known for its inclusivity and diversity and I stand by that ethos.”

She hopes to represent Brighton at the Miss Great Britain event which is scheduled for September in Leicester and would also like to help the Bliss charity that helps sick and premature babies.