Tomboy' hockey player swaps trainers for stilettos and is crowned Miss Asia UK... to show ex-boyfriend what he's missing

A self-confessed tomboy who loves playing hockey has blossomed into a champion beauty queen in a bid to show her former boyfriend what he’s missing.
Pahrnia Parsons, 21, has been crowned Miss Asia UK – defying a lifetime of shunning dresses and refusing to play with dolls as a child.
The sports lover, who also enjoys playing rugby and cricket, only made the decision to enter the competition after breaking up with her boyfriend and hoping to get back at him.

Transformation: Pahrnia Parsons, 21, shows off her competition dress and a more usual hockey look

‘I really enjoy glammed up for the occasion and having fun with the other contestants.’
Miss Parsons, who studies sports science at the University of Kent and plays hockey to a high standard for a team in Canterbury, grew up as a sport-loving tomboy.
From a young age she shunned dolls and dresses in favour of heading out in her back garden to throw a rugby ball around - or even playing cricket.
Growing up at a strict private school in Bath, she lived in her school uniform or sports kit.
These days the tough competitor loves nothing more than chucking on her sports gear and going for a run.

Flaunting her body: Pahrnia Parsons, 21, shows off the swimsuit look that helped her win Miss Asia UK

She is also a keen skier and snowboarder - hitting the slopes last week in a trip to Austria with her family - and had never dreamt of modelling.
But in October last year Miss Parsons, who is half Iranian, decided to enter Miss Asia UK contest - in part to get back at an old flame.
She entered the contest and to her shock she made it through to the final, held at an exclusive club in Chelsea, west London.
‘I was feeling a bit low after splitting with an old boyfriend and just decided to put my name forward.
‘The judges then invited me to the final in a really nice club in London.
‘There was a little black dress round, a pageant and an underwear round.
‘I wore my own dresses and did my own hair and make up for the contest. Afterwards judges told me I had won and I could not believe it.

Comfortable: Miss Parsons dressed in her everyday clothes at home in Bath, Somerset

‘My prize was a trip to the Bahamas.
‘I am now looking at entering more modelling competitions. But I am also equally as at home on the hockey pitch with my friends.
‘They all find it very amusing - they have seen all the pictures of me - but they are happy for me.’
Miss Parsons will now be taking to the stage for the finals of the Miss Bristol and Avon and Miss Kent contests next month.
Finalists are required to take part in four rounds - including interview, sportswear, day wear and evening wear.

Sport lover: Miss Parsons wearing her university hockey training gear while playing with a dog

The winner will then be put forward for Miss England - one of the most prestigious modelling titles in the country.
She said: ‘The Miss England title would be amazing to win, as it would prove you are a female who is confident in her opinions, a great role model, willing to put in the extra hours and be naturally beautiful inside and out.’
Miss Parsons is also using her beauty queen exploits to raise money for The Princes Diana Ward in Birmingham and New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.