EAST Lancs own beauty queen Aysha Khan missed out in the final of Miss England – but returned home yesterday a winner in the eyes of her hometown.

The 21-year-old from Blackburn, who was crowned Miss Lancashire earlier this year, starred in glitzy event held in Newcastle on Thursday evening.

She was crowned Miss Publicity – with judges hailing the positive coverage she gained in the media – after news outlets across the globe picked up the Lancashire Telegraph’s reports on her progress in the competition.

But she ultimately missed out on the top prize with the panel crowning Basha Mukherjee – a 23-year-old junior doctor from Derby.

Aysha made headlines across the globe when she entered a picture of herself in a wetsuit for the beauty contest’s infamous beachwear round.

Aysha's mum Ruksana said before the final: "I'm really proud of her for getting to this stage.

"She does a lot of work for charity and I couldn't be more proud of how far she has come.

"Even if she doesn't win tonight, she's the winner for me, and I hope she can do this."

Lancashire Telegraph reporter Alima Nadeem followed Aysha's progress all the way from being a Miss Lancashire hopeful to the final this week.

Alima, who was in Newcastle on Thursday night reporting on the final, tweeted: "Aysha did not win. But, she's a winner to Lancashire nonetheless and has done amazing work. Well done to the winner Basha Mukherjee."