A YOUNG Kilbirnie woman, who has suffered for years from severe asthma, is in the running to be crowned Miss Scotland.

Holly Sutherland developed asthma after being born three months early and can’t go anywhere without her inhaler.

The 21-year-old is competing for the Miss Scotland crown in the hope that she can raise awareness of the serious – and sometimes deadly – condition.

Holly, who has never competed in a pageant before, told the Herald: “I screamed when I found out I was a finalist.

“ The woman who runs it said she had never seen someone so happy!

“Being a finalist for Miss Scotland 2016 has opened my eyes up to a lot of opportunities and made me realise that there is more than just being ‘pretty’ to be in Miss Scotland.

“Upon lots of research into the organisation I learned that this isn’t a beauty pageant like you would think.

“Miss Scotland is a competition to find the next ambassador for Scotland and to be the face seen all over the world representing the country.

“I was actually born three months premature and I’ve had asthma since I was born.

“When I was younger I was told that it would get better when I was older, but as I got older it actually got worse.

“I used to really stress about it but now I just handle it and try to get on with living my life to the fullest.”

Holly said that if she won the crown it would be a huge honour. She added: “I have so much to give and I’d love to be an ambassador for North Ayrshire.

“I’m just a normal girl and I can relate to people so even if I could just inspire another person out there then it would be worth it.

“I was always keeping up with the news of Miss Scotland and this year I’ve had the confidence to just go for it.

“My family have been very, very supportive.”

Holly is hoping to raise around £500 for Asthma UK and already has several events lined up.

On Friday, July 30, she will be collecting for the charity at Tesco Kilbirnie with MP Patricia Gibson. And on August 10, she will climb Ben Nevis, a task which will test the young pageant hopeful to the limits.

Holly said: “For someone who suffers with asthma it’s not very easy to do something like climbing Ben Nevis so I’m hoping that I’ll be showing other people with asthma that you can do anything you want.

“It’s also about raising awareness. It’s not really talked about in the media even though it’s so common, so I want to remind people to go for check-ups and use the right inhaler.

“When I was younger I would get very embarrassed about it.

“I hated taking out my inhaler because I thought an inhaler was something only older people had to use.

“I’d like to let younger people realise that asthma is really common in children and young people.”

Holly’s stepdad, Mark Brekenridge, said: “I’m overly proud and very happy for her.

“She’s always been fashion orientated – her interest in fashion goes back years. She’s living the dream.”

To help Holly’s fundraising campaign, you should contact www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Holly-Sutherland.