Early tomorrow morning Kristina Schmidt will be mucking out her horses as usual - 12 hours later she will be hoping to be crowned Mrs Great Britain.

She will swap stable wellies and shovel for high heels and slinky dresses to contest one of the UK's most prestigious beauty pageants.

The 26-year-old, who now lives in Chadwell, grew up as Kristina Smith in St Agnes Drive on Canvey.

A former pupil of Canvey's Northwick Park and Cornelius Vermuyden schools, and Thurrock College (where she gained a diploma in travel and tourism with languages) this is the London bank PA's chance to shine.

The Mrs UK Great Britain 2007 contestant said: "I have been looking at getting into modelling and I applied and sent in a picture.

"I have never entered this sort of pageant before. Because I am married, I thought that I had missed out on all the Miss beauty competitions," she added.

But the Mrs contest bosses gave the good-looking horse-riding fanatic a chance to take her place in the line-up.

Kristina - a stalwart member of Thurrock Riding Club - said: "Before this, I had only ever done a beautiful baby competition."

For many years Kristina was a keen dancer, training at several schools - including the Star Studios on Canvey - and taking part in local dance productions.

"My husband, Robert, was great and urged me to enter the Mrs Great Britain contest. He kept saying, you're beautiful, you're beautiful, do something about it.' He inspired me to take part," she added.

Animal-mad Kristina, who has three cats, one rabbit and two hamsters as well as her two horses, Pippin and Fleur, was surprised and delighted when she was shortlisted.

The setting for the event is the Prince of Wales Theatre in Birmingham.

Kristina added: "If you win, you go to Russia for three weeks for the Mrs World 2007 competition."

She is even prepared to walk away from her London job if she is crowned Mrs Great Britain. If she makes it she'll have to pack her bags for a three-week Russian adventure between February 18 and March 9.

Hubby Robert, 24, will be rooting for the Birmingham judges to pick his wife. The couple have been together for six years and married for two.

Kristina said: "You have to wear stuff that shows off your figure, and for the partywear round I have a knee-length pink coloured haler-neck thing. I only spent about £10 on this from Oasis.

"My evening wear is from Monsoon in Lakeside. It's a black dress with a pretty blue layer," she added.

Kristina is determined to mention her love of animals and passion for equestrianism when on stage. She's a committee member of Thurrock Riding Club and regularly takes part in cross country, dressage, jumping and showing events.