The new Miss England's big secret... She's actually WELSH

The new Miss England's big secret... She's actually WELSH - The new Miss England beauty queen has a secret - she is a pure Welshwoman from the Valleys.

Blonde model and journalism student Alize Lily Mounter, 22, was crowned Miss England earlier this week - even though she's as Welsh as daffodils and leeks.

Student Alize, who even speaks the tongue-twisting Welsh language, beat 63 English girls to win the title in London.

Valley girl: London-based student Alize Lily Mounter was born and raised in Pontypridd, but qualified for the contest thanks to the residency rule

She missed out on winning the Miss Wales contest - but managed to pip the other contestants top the post to pick up the accolade of perfect English rose.

Alize qualified for Miss England because she now lives in Kensington, London, and studies at Roehampton University, after moving from her home village of Beddau in the South Wales valleys.

She said: 'I'm so excited, I can't believe it. I never expected to win.

Worthy winner: Crowned Miss England Alize Lily Mounter flanked by runners up, Miss London Rissikat Bade, left, and Miss Rugby, Rebecca Morton, right

'Although I'm from Wales I was allowed to enter on residency grounds because I've lived in London for a while now.

'I'm proud to be representing England - but everyone who knows me will tell you that deep down I am very Welsh.'

Alize will now line up against the current Miss Wales Sara Manchipp, 21, in the Miss World competition in London in November.

Haven't we seen you somewhere before? The newly crowned Miss England was previously Miss Rhondda Cynon Taff after winning a regional heat of Miss Wales

THE RULES...

Miss England director Angie Beasley explains how Miss England can actually be Welsh...
'Miss England is a multicultural competition. Contestants must simply hold a British passport and reside in England at the time of the contest.

Alize Lily fulfilled the criteria. Miss London, who came second, is from Nigeria but has a British passport, and we had a Polish entrant too.

In 2005, we had our first Muslim Miss England, Hammasa Kohistani from Afghanistan, who came to live in the UK with her family during the war and went on to become a British citizen.

We welcome girls from all walks of life, and are delighted our contestants represent the cultural diversity of our country.

5ft 11in Alize went to Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School in Beddau, near Pontypridd, where she was a star pupil.

She was a finalist in Miss Wales last year after being crowned Miss Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Alize was also a contestant on the sixth series of reality TV show Britain's Next Top Model.

She has worked for Abercrombie and Fitch and for world-renowned Welsh fashion designer Julien Macdonald.

Alize fits her beauty and modelling work around her journalism degree at Roehampton University.

The rules for Miss England state that contestants must be a British citizen and reside in England.

A spokesman for the organisers said: 'Alize won fair and square - she is a worthy Miss England and we hope she will do well in Miss World.' ( dailymail.co.uk )