A former Miss Brighton has secured a new role presenting a BBC radio show.

Shivani Joshi, from Brighton, will be presenting the show every Sunday in December.

She got the gig after applying to a BBC initiative for up-and-coming presenters and radio talent in the UK.

Shivani said: "I initially applied as a joke, I saw it as a bit of fun and it wasn't something I could see myself doing.

"But I was thrilled when I found out I would be presenting the show on the BBC's Asian Network in December."

Shivani is British-Asian and she said that at school and college in Brighton it was "hard to fit in". 

The Argus: Shivani said she sometimes found it difficult to express her culture in BrightonShivani said she sometimes found it difficult to express her culture in Brighton (Image: Shivani Joshi/BBC)

"I struggled with how to express my religion and culture," she said.

"Going to university in Wolverhampton meant I could see how rich my culture is and put the teaching my mum gave me into practice."

The show will be part of a BBC Asian Network initiative where 12 successful applicants each won the chance to host a radio show for a month.

Ahmed Hussain, head of BBC Asian Network, said: “Last year’s Asian Network Represents showed us how much talent is out there, and this year was no different.

"It’s never an easy job to pick 12 people from the hundreds of applicants who’ve taken the time and effort to submit their demos.

"Every single one of our new presenters represents something different from right across the UK and the South Asian diaspora, and we look forward to working with them over the next 12 months. Welcome to the Asian Network family.”

The Argus: Shivani will host a show once a week on Sundays from 9pm to 11pmShivani will host a show once a week on Sundays from 9pm to 11pm (Image: Shivani Joshi/BBC)

Shivani said: "I'm currently in the process of planning my shows and my producers have given me lots of support.

"I will be providing music for all culture across the Asian community, all ages, will be bringing great features on to the show such as celebrity DJs, singers and artists."

Shivani's first show will be broadcast nationwide on BBC Asian Network radio on Sunday, December 4, from 9pm to 11pm.