A schoolgirl who spoke about female genital mutilation beat thousands of others to get to the final of the world’s biggest youth public speaking event.

Sophia Beach, of Drury Lane, was a runner-up in this year’s Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge where she competed against 18,000 year 10 students from across London and Essex at Piccadilly Theatre on July 14.

The 15-year-old St Marylebone School pupil impressed the judges as she spoke passionately about FGM, a subject she chose when she realised many of her peers did not know anything about the horrific ordeal thousands of girls and women around the world are forced go through.

Sophia, who used to live in Pimlico, said: “I’ve done lots of public speaking and debating before but I found the finals really nerve-racking and I was actually shaking because I couldn’t believe I managed to beat so many others. I didn’t think I would get this far because so many of the people who do really well do funny speeches and mine was entirely serious, there was definitely no reason for laughter. When David Cameron spoke about FGM the other day he actually quoted part of my speech to the word.

“My family were all really proud and so happy because I was one of lots of kids. My teachers had the same reaction which was really nice.

“At other competitions I’ve been to everyone is in it for themselves and is always trying to put other contestants off but at the workshop before the finals of this, everybody was really nice and we were all giving each other tips, it was a great atmosphere.

“We got to meet Jack Petchey briefly and he was so lovely, it was his birthday but he congratulated all of us.”

The determined schoolgirl wants to carry on public speaking and is hoping to use it in whatever career path she chooses. She has also taken it upon herself to make sure the school’s debating club continues and excels.

The Jack Petchey Speak Our Challenge is the biggest public speaking event of its kind in the world and is funded by the Jack Petchey Foundation founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Jack Petchey. Now in its ninth year, £4 million have been invested in schools to train over 10,000 year 10 students so far.