A 23-YEAR-old midwife from Yeovil, Somerset, is swapping her scrubs for sequins and tiaras in a bid to be crowned the next Miss England.

Skye Dorland reached the finals of a beauty pageant last month and was crowned Miss Somerset.

The 23-year-old usually helps deliver babies on the maternity ward at Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil Hospital for the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. But she will now juggle her shifts to take to the catwalk at the final event - after entering her first ever beauty pageant.

Skye hopes she can use her platform as a midwife to "empower all women" after seeing how "strong and incredible" females can be on a daily basis.

Skye said: "This is my first pageant and I feel extremely honoured for the opportunity.

"My hope is to showcase and emphasise the incredible role I have as a midwife. Each day, I support, encourage and empower women from all walks of life during pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatally.

"Seeing every emotion and having a first-hand experience of how truly strong and incredible women are has inspired me to use my platform to advocate for maternity services and inspire other healthcare professionals."

Skye added that swapping her scrubs for pageant gowns and her crocs for heels was not something on her 2025 bingo card.

She said: "I love being able to take a step back and let loose on the stage and perform. It brings back fond memories of when I used to perform with my theatre groups as a teenager.

"I enjoy the process massively of being able to get glammed up and making new friends along the way."

Skye has been qualified as a midwife for just over a year, and is currently working towards her band six, having received a first-class honours and training at Bournemouth University to become a midwife for three years prior.

She said: "I've also created a Beauty with a Purpose fundraising event recently via social media for DKMS, an incredible charity that supports individuals with blood cancer.

"I want to raise awareness and encourage more people to register as stem cell donors."

Supporters can vote for Skye by downloading the Miss England app for free.

The Miss England final will take place over two days at The Grand Station in Wolverhampton on November 20 and 21.

The winner will go on to represent England at the 73rd Miss World next year.