CHARLOTTE Roberts is more than just a pretty face – she is also a hero for the planet.

At 20 years old, she has just reached the UK final of the environmentally-themed Miss Earth beauty pageant for the second year in a row.

The competition challenges girls to show off their inner beauty as well as their good looks, in particular their love of mother Earth.

Miss Roberts, a design consultant for Oak Furniture Land, grew up in west Oxfordshire and went to Henry Box School in Witney.

She is already Miss Earth Oxfordshire for 2016/ 17 and played the green goddess at Witney Carnival, Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace and a Friends Of the Earth event.

She has been selected to take part in the competition's UK final for a second year running.

She said "I wanted to be part of the competition because natural causes are very close to my heart, it's something I've often been involved in and I want to put forward in a better platform.

"Miss Earth is somebody who is a really good ambassador, does things in the local community and does charity work, knows what they're talking about and is willing to go the extra mile."

And one of the causes close to Miss Roberts' heart is the humble hedgehog.

She said: "It is estimated there were more than 30 million hedgehogs in the UK in the 1950s but recent estimates suggest there are less than a million left.

"This is absolutely devastating – hedgehogs are super important to the eco-systems in the UK and stop the over-population of certain bugs such as the slug.

"These beautiful creatures are under threat with the slow disappearance of their natural habitat."

The Miss Earth competition was launched in 2001 as a more ethical alternative to the rival Miss World and Miss Universe.

It first took UK entrants in 2007 and now has more than 80 competing countries each year.

The current title holder is 23-year-old Katherine Espin from Ecuador who advocates environmental education in schools.

This year's UK final will be held at the Burlington Hotel, Birmingham, on July 15.

Miss Roberts said she wanted to bring the crown back for Oxfordshire and put the county on the beauty pageant world map.

She added: "The Miss Earth contest is an international environmental event, channelling a beauty competition as an effective tool to promote environmental awareness.

"It is the fastest-growing and most relevant contest, giving girls the most amazing opportunity of a lifetime.

"This coming year I want to make Oxfordshire and the UK the winners."