Fresh from her victory as Miss Southampton 2006, Joanne Jones is the first to confirm you need more than just good looks to fulfil your ambitions in life.

The glamorous 18-year-old is not just looking to take on the rest of the country's most beautiful women for the Miss England title, but also has her sights firmly set on becoming a world-class fashion designer.

The blonde bombshell, who lives in Langley on the edge of the New Forest, is no stranger to success with mentally demanding challenges.

At the age of 15, Joanne had already passed 13 GCSEs with straight As, a year before pupils the same age were due to sit the exams.

Continuing her impressive qualifications the former pupil of Hardley School and Sixth Form, in Holbury, Joanne has also achieved an A grade in business studies and art A-levels and B grades in maths and textiles.

Fashion design dream

"I really want to become a fashion designer and travel the world," said the bright beauty pageant winner, who is now studying a fashion design foundation course at the Winchester School of Art.

"I love fashion designing and it's one of my hobbies. I really want to go to the London College of Fashion," she added.

In keeping with her thirst for fashion, Joanne celebrated her Miss Southampton win with a shopping trip with some of her friends and family. Stopping at the shoe store where she works part-time, Joanne had a warm welcome from her colleagues at Aldo, before joining her mum Judith for a touch of retail therapy at Southampton's WestQuay shopping centre.

The shopping spree was a double celebration for both mum and daughter as Judith, who works in the ladies' fashion department at John Lewis, was also celebrating her birthday.

The family will enjoy a meal together this evening with Joanne's older brother Ben, who studies at Oxford University, and her dad Ray who is a plant supervisor for Esso.

"I'm very proud of her without this award but now I guess the whole family is doubly proud," said Judith.

"We've had lots of phone calls and some people didn't even know Joanne had entered so there have been a few surprises when they saw it on the front page."

Crowned this year's winner of the contest, it was the second time Joanne had entered the Miss Southampton competition.

"I think this year I was more confident," she said. "It still hasn't sunk in yet. The phone hasn't stopped ringing and everyone is trying to get hold of me to congratulate me."

The blonde beauty was the judges' favourite to win out of 18 stunning hopefuls who graced the final round of the competition which included a fashion parade, a swimsuit contest and an evening wear round within the glamorous black-tie setting of the NV restaurant and cabaret bar in Southampton's High Street, on Tuesday night.

Joanne will now represent the city in the Miss England finals in Leicester in July.