Melissa Butcher secured a top 12 place for the grand final after winning a gruelling sports round which saw beauty queens put through their paces by a former Royal Marine.
The 24-year-old usually spends her days on the wings of a Category-C jail in the North West dealing with burly inmates.
But this week she is hanging up her keys and handcuffs to take to the stage as a beauty queen at the grand final.
Melissa says she wants to use her platform to promote women in male-dominated industries and to change the stereotypes attached to young women officers.
She said: "I entered Miss England as I want to show that you don't have to be 'rough and tough and big and strong' in order to do the job as a prison officer.
"There are many other qualities such as just being able to communicate and speak with people which help you be a good officer.”
Mellissa – who is is being sponsored by Morecambe's Tyson Fury – is competing at the Miss England national final at the Grand Station, Wolverhampton.
The winner of Miss England will go forward to the 72nd edition of Miss World.
3. Miss England hopeful
Lancaster prison officer Melissa Butcher, 24, is a finalist in Miss England Photo: Neil Cross
4. Miss England hopeful
Melissa Butcher prepares for the final of Miss England with Hollie Christian at Jo & Cass in Lancaster. Photo: Neil Cross