A SOLICITOR whose mum was killed by a drug driver has revealed how her death inspired her to become a beauty queen as she bids to be crowned Miss England.

Alice Cutler, 26, was seriously injured in a smash which claimed her mum Tereasa's life in 2015.

The family had been heading home from a funeral when a BMW being driven by Lewis Faulkner ploughed into them head-on near Wimborne.

The 25-year-old construction worker, who had taken ecstasy and cannabis, was later jailed for more than four years at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The crash left Alice, who was 18 at the time, orphaned after she lost her father to cancer a few years earlier but she refused to let either tragedy stop her living her life.

She went on to become a successful commercial property solicitor and made a bucket list of things she wanted to do, including entering Miss England.

And she was left stunned when she was picked by judges as wildcard entry for this year's semi-final competition, which will be held in April.

Alice is now using her beauty queen platform to raise awareness during Road Safety Week and support the charity Brake as part of her Beauty With A Purpose project.

Alice, of Southampton, said: "My mum absolutely inspired me to do this. At Miss Hampshire, I was asked who my role model was, I said my mum.

"She was so focused on building the best life she could for us. She went to college and did a night course to get into university.

“She started doing the bookkeeping for my dad's company, she decided she wanted to become an accountant. She was my absolute hero."

Alice, who has only ever competed in one pageant before when she was 17, has no previous professional modelling experience.

Alice said the death of her 49-year-old mum made her determined to become an ambassador for road safety charity Brake.

Alice added: “People make decisions, especially leading up to the festive period, with drinking.

"You might think you’re fine, but there’s real life people who will be impacted by your story.

“This is why it’s important to raise awareness, my mum was driving perfectly safely.

"The driver who crashed into us was suffering from the come down effects of ecstasy and cannabis.

“I don't want to simply talk about making a difference so there are a few things I am planning on doing to support Brake as well as other causes and charities relating to my story."