A TEENAGER who collapsed after suffering a stroke in America just a few months ago has spoken of her delight after being named Miss Torfaen.

Emily Shephard, 18, from Pontnewydd, entered the Galaxy Pageant UK competition at the start of the summer.

After falling ill, she completely forgot about it.

Miss Shephard said: “When I was 15 I was asked to star in a music video for Flow Dem and the paid models put me down. I wanted to show them that I was just as good, so I applied by sending in photographs.”

After finishing her studies in public services at Coleg Gwent in Ebbw Vale, she had dreams of joining the armed forces or the police.

Her hopes were dashed after what happened this summer.

On July 22, while working at a summer camp in Minnesota, America, Miss Shephard had a headache, but put it down to the heat.

“Then, when I was on stage singing and dancing, I just felt weak and collapsed.”

She woke up in an ambulance and was given injections to thin her blood. She did not suffer brain damage and received physiotherapy in hospital and was able to leave after three days.

Miss Shephard said: “I didn’t want to waste the time that I had in hospital, but I was very weak and couldn’t walk unaided.”

She still suffers with pins and needles in her left arm and leg and often becomes very weak, so is unable to swim, one of her hobbies.

She received the call to say that she had been awarded the Miss Torfaen title two weeks ago.

She said: “I had completely forgotten. So when they rang I just screamed. My stroke was brought on by stress as I was bullied, and I didn’t want to come home from America. This has given me the chance to show what I can achieve.”

Miss Shephard, who works as a carer, would like to return to America to study how to set up her own charity.

She is gaining experience by volunteering for the charity