A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl is on track to fulfilling her dreams of becoming a star after being cherry-picked for an international beauty pageant.

Layla Thompson, who goes by Layla Belle, had her confidence knocked as a toddler when she witnessed a violent attack but the little one has bounced back and has firmly set her sights on a future in the spotlight.

This week the aspiring model and keen dancer received a call from the organisers of Miss British Empire, an international beauty pageant, offering her a direct place in the finals.

Images of the youngster, who will represent Durham, were spotted online by the team behind the contest which will see the winner appear on Good Morning Britain and have a documentary made about them.

Layla’s mother Jenna Eastland said: “They were impressed with what she looks like and that she can dance. It’s such a good opportunity so I was over the moon. Layla is made to be a a dancer and to be famous.

"Since the age of five she has had high hopes for herself and life in Newton Aycliffe isn’t enough for her. She wants to be a big star and I’m trying to help her follow her dreams.”

The Northern Echo: MODEL: Layla on a photo shoot which secured her a deal with a modelling agency

MODEL: Layla on a photo shoot which secured her a deal with a modelling agency

Layla first got a taste of the limelight after taking up dancing at the age of five at Newton Aycliffe-based South Durham School of Dance. In the first year she came second in a national freestyle dance competition and last year secured the runner-up spot in a national street dance contest.

In 2016 Layla was signed up to Newcastle-based Fusion Model and Dance Agency following a professional photo shoot in London. Since then she has auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent and has made an impression on the pageant scene.

The home-schooled youngster came second at Miss High Street UK in Liverpool this year and has other runner-up titles under her belt for catwalk modelling and dancing.

Single mother-of-three Miss Eastland spoke of her pride of Layla’s success despite a traumatic experience as a three-year-old.

The 31-year-old said: “She hasn’t come from the best start as she watched a violent incident when she was three. She could have gone the other way but she’s doing really well and I’m hoping this is just the start and it will snowball.”

  • Layla will compete at Miss British Empire in Buckinghamshire next month.