A woman who became paralysed overnight due to an extremely rare nerve disorder is bidding to become the most beautiful woman in Germany.

Christina Modrzejewski, 27, from the town of Dinslaken, North Rhine-Westphalia State, Germany, felt terrified when she found herself confined to a hospital bed and unable to move in less than a day after feeling unwell.

But despite the devastating condition – called the Guillain-Barre syndrome – the beautiful blonde has now made it to be among the top 40 of this year’s beauty pageant.

She said in an interview for German media Bild: “I’m the perfect Miss Germany because I’m loud for the people who can’t be.

“I stand up for minorities, I see things that others don’t see. There is so much catching up to do in Germany.

“And I want to show that you can do anything even with a difficult fate.”

Christina recalled how it all began when she felt muscle weakness and tingling in her feet that quickly spread up to her legs on 5th August, 2021.

And after not being able to move from her waist down the following day, medics discovered that her immune system was creating antibodies that attacked her nerves.

She said: “I felt helpless and overwhelmed, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t want to admit it and kept asking myself ‘what is actually happening here?’

“I panicked in the hospital. That’s when you get scared. And no matter how old you are, in such situations you just want to have your mum with you.”

However, despite most people making a full recovery from the paralysis, some are left with long-term effects that may take a long time to resolve.

Christina said she spent the first six months at the hospital with a dialysis catheter down her throat, before her condition began improving.

She added: “I could only move minimally and had to wear a neck brace. And each evening I would say to my mum on the phone, ‘If something happens, don’t forget that I love you.'”

She now reportedly moves with the help of a wheelchair and electronic orthoses (or braces), and frequently shares her progress with her 35,000 Instagram followers to raise awareness against the disorder.

Explaining that each orthosis costs about EUR 20,000 (GBP 17,000) she said: “In the end it’s cheaper then a disability pension.”

She concluded: “Giving up wasn’t an option for me.

“You have to want it yourself and give everything, otherwise it’s difficult to overcome GBS.

“I want to enjoy every day to the fullest, no matter what situation I’m in at the moment.”