A transsexual says modeling agency officials had no idea she had been born male when they urged her to enter the Miss England pageant.

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Jackie Green, 18, Leeds, is the first contestant in the pageant to have undergone a sex change and says she was flattered when talent scouts urged her to enter.

"I went to the Britain's Next Top Model show in London and was really surprised when scouts came up to me," Green told The Sun. "Miss England is a prestigious competition. I'd love to win and I have as good a chance as anyone."

Green's image was posted online with the other teenage contestants for the Miss Fresh Photographic round of the contest, in which members of the public cast their votes for their favorites.

The contest is a major step forward for Green, who underwent a sex-change operation at age 16 after years of bullying. The Sun said Green, who was born Stuart, adopted a female lifestyle at age 4 and wore long hair and a girl's uniform to school.