A BEAUTY queen who lives 40 miles from Derby will represent the city at this year's Miss England contest.

Coralee Matthews, of Great Barr, near Birmingham, was crowned Miss Derby after seeing off competition from a dozen other girls in the city's annual final.

The 24-year-old succeeds Laura Coleman, of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, who became Miss England 2008.

Coralee was recommended for the competition by a modelling website after browsing the internet for promotional work.

She decided to enter the contest, despite not coming from Derby, because age rules mean it is her last chance this year.

And Coralee, a front-of-house manager at Birmingham restaurant Shimla Pinks, said she was happy to be representing Derby.

She said: "I've been quite a few times to the city and it really is lovely – so clean and friendly.

"It is weird to be representing Derby and not Birmingham, which is closer to where I live.

"But I was in the catchment area for the competition.

"The girls in the final came from all over the country as well.

Coralee's modelling portfolio

"And Laura was not from Derby either, so I don't think it is unusual."

The last round of the Miss Derby competition was at the City Rooms in Leicester.

Coralee and other entrants have had to take part in charity work, a popularity contest, interviews and modelling.

As Miss Derby, Coralee was automatically short-listed for the Miss England finals, held at the Hilton Hotel, in London, on July 19 and 20.

Before this, the 55 national finalists will have to do more charity work and prepare a video of themselves displaying a specific talent.

They will also be campaigning to get members of the public to fast-track them to the last 15 of the competition by voting for them via text message.

Coralee said: "I've worked out a pole-fitness routine as my talent and have already organised a couple of raffles to raise money for charity. It's a surreal feeling to be in the final of Miss England."

Coralee was in the city centre this week for one of her first jobs as Miss Derby – launching a new National Lottery scratchcard. Dressed in a bunny suit, she held aloft a blown-up version of the Rabbit Riches scratchcard, helping the 2012 Olympic Games.