Miss Black Country back from brink of death to try for title

Martial arts enthusiast Nikki Sahota, from West Bromwich, was forced to pull out of the competition last year after being struck down by a potentially fatal kidney failure just days before the finals began.

Weeks earlier she had celebrated being crowned Miss Black Country, despite having just been released from hospital on the day of the contest, when her health problems first started to develop.

Celebrations were short-lived as her condition deteriorated over the weeks that followed, with kidney infections and septicemia leading to acute renal failure.

She was left fighting for her life instead of pursuing her dream of competing in the prestigious Miss England final. But the 24-year-old staged a remarkable recovery, regaining full health and finding a new passion as a mixed martial arts fighter.

She qualified for the Miss England contest after winning the Miss Asian Model crown and still holds her Miss Black Country title, which she won in May last year.

No new pageant for that title is due to be held until December.

She competes in the Miss England 2013 finals this weekend in Torquay.

Wolverhampton-born Nikki, a clinical psychology graduate said: "It's exactly a year ago when I started to get ill, but it feels like another life. I feel like I was in a glass snow-globe being shaken around. It's mentally challenging when you get ill, you don't look or feel great."

Last August Nikki took up mixed martial arts and has gained sponsorship from some of the sport's leading international brands. She has also set her sights on boxing for Team GB in the 2016 Olympic Games, as well as pursuing her career as a clinical psychologist. She has also appeared in the blockbuster film Fast & Furious 6.

The 5ft 7ins beauty who spent two years training as a Territorial Army officer while studying at Staffordshire University said taking up mixed martial arts after regaining her health had helped her push herself.

"Since I was really little, I've always been a tomboy, I did boxing on and off at school and then last August, after I recovered from illness, it was like when I went into the Territorial Army, I wanted to just push myself.

"Now it's like there's two different personas, on one hand a girl with glamorous dresses and a crown and heels, but on the other hand, when I'm in my MMA gear I'm tough and empowered. I don't want to be seen as a victim. I want to inspire others to go and follow their dreams."