Being plucked from the crowds to be crowned the most beautiful girl on her home islands should have been one of the best things that ever happened to Jade Manson.
But Jade was left reeling in the aftermath of becoming Miss Shetland, claiming she received nasty comments about her victory.
Now, the 20-year-old social care worker is determined to use the negativity she faced to galvanise her to do bigger and better things in the world of modelling.
Miss Manson, from Lerwick, hopes to claim success at this year’s Top Model UK competition.
She is a finalist in the natural beauty category of the ceremony, which is taking place on 1 and 2 April at the London Metropole Hilton hotel.
Only 160 people have been nominated for the competition’s six sections.
Miss Manson models in her spare time and she won the inaugural Miss Shetland title in Aberdeen in May.
However, it was negative comments about the pageant that galvanised her desire to embark further in modelling.
“I got a lot of stick from people who obviously thought the pageant was hilarious because it’s so out of the ordinary in Shetland to do something like that,” Manson said.
“I got so many nasty things said about me which made me determined to go on and do something better and show them that theruk top modele are no limits to how far I can go.
“I am going to keep trying to go as far as possible and try to make a good life for myself, so I applied for this in the hope of a confidence boost and to try to not let others bring me down.”
Miss Manson, who is sponsored by local business Sunkissed by Anna for the competition, said: “I was shocked and thrilled that they saw something in me.
“It really makes me feel proud to just be me.”
The Lerwick woman is also nominated for the competition’s public vote award, which raises money for national charity Children with Cancer.
“I will also be holding charity events over the next coming months,” Miss Manson added.