How a fashion student from DEVON clinched the beauty queen crown of Miss Thailand

By SADIE WHITELOCKS
Updated:

Swapping Devon for Asia one girl has finally fulfilled her dreams of becoming a beauty queen.

Fashion student Patcharida Rodkongka, 20 - better known as Julie in the English market town of Newton Abbot, where she was born and raised - has been handed the title of Miss Thailand.

Miss Rodkongka who is of Thai descent, moved back to her mother's native country two years ago, and admits that she is still unable to speak the language.

Beauty queen: Patcharida Rodkongka, originally from Devon was crowned Miss Thailand 2011

Beauty queen: Patcharida Rodkongka, originally from Devon was crowned Miss Thailand 2011

She was awarded £20,000, a £34,700 Nissan car, a house valued at £30,500, a diamond tiara and entry into the Miss World pageant in London which kicks off on October 27.

Standing 5ft 8in and weighing eight-and-a-half stone, Miss Rodkongka impressed the judges with her positive attitude at the contest which took place on August 13 at the Centara Grand Hotel in Bangkok.

She said: 'If you put effort in every thing you do, you can achieve anything.

'I believe my strong determination would make me a successful candidate in winning Miss World Title in England as I also understand English culture.'

Crowned: Miss Rodkongka (centre) with fellow Miss Thailand contestants at the Centara Grand Hotel in Bangkok

Crowned: Miss Rodkongka (centre) with fellow Miss Thailand contestants at the Centara Grand Hotel in Bangkok

Patcharida Rodkongka
Patcharida Rodkongka

Dreamy: Miss Rodkongka's aunt, said that her niece had always wanted to be in a beauty contest 

It was reported that Miss Rodkongka lost nearly two stones in preparation for the competition by cutting carbohydrates out of her diet.

She is currently a first year student at Raffles International Design Institute in Bangkok working towards a major in fashion design.

Her aunt Mem, who still works at Torbay Thai Restaurant in Preston, Devon, said the whole family was proud of her.

Hometown: Queen Street in Newton Abbot, Devon, where Miss Patcharida was raised

Hometown: Queen Street in Newton Abbot, Devon, where Miss Patcharida was raised

She said: 'She's a good girl. She always said she wanted to be in a beauty contest. We have supported her all the way. Her mum is with her in Thailand but we watched it on television. 

'She has been on the television every day since, it has been amazing. We are so pleased for her.'

Miss Thailand was first held in 1934. It used to be the case that Miss Thailand would go on to represent the country at Miss Universe - the last one being Apisamai Srirangsan in 1999 - however the organization lost these license rights in 2000.

Miss Patcharida will now battle it out against 120 contestants for the 2011 Miss World title with the winner revealed on November 6.

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