A Cambridgeshire woman has overcome a major operation to become a finalist in this year’s Miss England beauty pageant.

Ely Standard:

This time last year Codie Yau was recovering from having a choledochal cyst - the size of a five-month-old foetus or a large mango - removed. She also had her bile duct and gall bladder taken out and has been left with a five-inch scar across her abdomen.

“It was the toughest time in my life. Since the operation I have been very self conscious of my body but this competition has brought me out of my shell slowly,” she said.

“Hopefully in time I will gain my confidence back and be able to show my scar off.”

“I was told it was a one in a million condition in the U.K,” she added.

Ely Standard:

“I have never undergone any surgery or had any major illnesses before so this was definitely the hardest and toughest time in my life.

“My mum was forced to resign from her job in order to look after me so I hope I am making her proud now.

“My doctors told me it would take at least one year to fully heal until I’m back to normal - however I still find some things challenging such as physical activities and adapting to dietary changes.

“Since my operation I have wanted to take every opportunity that has come my way and the first on my list was to enter Miss Cambridgeshire.

Codie, who has raised more than £1,000 for the charity Beauty with a Purpose, which helps disadvantaged children around the world, will compete in the Miss England finals at Birmingham Resorts World from July 12 to 14.

After competing in the Miss England beauty pageant Codie will have her hair shaved off and donated to The Little Princess Trust, a charity which makes wigs for children with cancer.

“I hope I will be able to inspire people to pick themselves back up when they’ve been knocked down and to take every opportunity there is. “Because who would’ve been able to tell I was in a hospital bed this time last year and now I’m a Miss England finalist?”