BOUNCER, law student – and now Southampton’s beauty queen.

Meet Tessa Crawford, 24, who has just been crowned Miss Southampton 2011.

She fought off competition from a bevy of beauties ranging from air hostesses and belly dancers to businesswomen and female soldiers to take the title and wear the sash of the famous beauty pageant.

More than 100 women entered the competition. They were whittled down to just ten finalists who had to impress a panel of expert judges including last year’s winner Stephanie Tibbitt, from Woolston.

First year student Tessa, who lives in Bassett, said: “I am so amazed I won.

“I’m speechless. I just can’t gather the adjectives to describe how I feel.

“My face is shaking. I just came here to make friends. I didn’t think I had a chance of winning.

“I need to get my game hat on now and once my exams are over next week I am going to come up with a million and one ideas to raise money for my charity, Help for Heroes.”

Tessa, who is a keen surfer and loves outdoor sports and activities, works as door security at events and festivals.

As champion she will represent the city in the semi-finals of Miss England and if successful could even end up in the running for the international accolade.

The regional heat was held at Penthouse 90 – part of Southampton nightclub 90 Degrees in Carlton Crescent – after organisers Leah Shafik and Bethany Barber, of Popped Cork Events, stepped in to rescue the event at the last minute.

They say Tessa will be a role model and ambassador who will use her newly acquired high profile to raise money for a good cause.

Leah said: “You could be looking at a future Miss World here. There are so many beautiful women in Southampton.

“However, we were not just looking for somebody who looks good, they need to have something special, the whole package, an x-factor.

“We were looking for talented women that the next generation can look up to, this is no longer the outdated version from the 50s.”

Tessa will appear at the Miss England semi-final on June 13. If she makes it past that stage, the grand final is on July 19.

Runner-up in Miss Southampton was Kimberley Rayner, 22, from Alresford, with Alex Wallrock, 18, of Lymington, in third place.

Alex also won Miss Charity after she raised £25,000 for Help for Heroes while Janaii Amii Hall, 20, of Shedfield, won Miss Popularity by getting the most votes from the public on a website poll.