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HOPEFUL: Rissikat Oyebade

MISS ENGLAND hopeful says she wants her success in the popular beauty pageant to inspire other young black girls to enter.

Rissikat Oyebade, who successfully saw off her competitors to gain the Miss London title earlier this year, has revealed that her biggest wish is to see the number of black women entering the such pageants to rise.

She said: “Often black girls don’t feel like they have a chance, but people like Rachel Christie who won two years ago show and me making it this far can show girls that yes it is possible.”

“I do want to be an inspiration to young black girls, and I hope that next year more black girls will try and enter,” she added.

The 21-year-old Westminster University law student, who recently admitted that she face racism in her Ukrainian hometown, revealed that she is not in the pageant just to win but is simply happy for the experience.

“For me it is not just about the winning but I want the experience and to enjoy it all.”

“There are actually betting companies that have odds on all of us it’s kind of funny! I am not paying attention to that though I am just focusing and taking it all in,” she said.

Miss England will be crowned on July 19