A MUM who has spent thousands of pounds on beauty products to help her daughter go to beauty pageants has defended herself against critics who say she is sexualising the seven-year-old.

Layla Thompson, who goes by the stage name Layla Belle, is only seven but dreams of becoming a model when she is older.

Her mum Jenna Eastland, from Newton Aycliffe, has defended her daughter’s love of make-up, pageants and beauty products.

The 31-year-old said: “Layla’s got a six pack so she loves wearing belly tops and shorts.

“I guess people might think it’s too young but it's just Layla.

“I get abuse all the time saying I’m sexualising her, but I think that if people think that then there’s something sadly wrong with them even thinking that about a kid.”

The mother of three spends hundreds of pounds every month paying for spray tans, hair extensions and cosmetics.

Layla, who regularly attends beauty pageants and dance competitions, prefers experimenting with beauty products than playing with toys.

Miss Eastland , who is also mum to Noah, 10 and Brody, nine, said: “She’s always wore makeup and dressed up from the age of one. If I left make up she would cover herself in bronzer.

“By the time she was two she was putting on her own mascara.

“She has always been mature for her age and loved to pose.

“It was apparent from a young age, I’d get my camera out and she would just instantly pose without any prompt.

“She just wants to be famous and has the mind set of an adult.

“For her birthday she told me she wanted a boat ride with dinner on the boat.

“She’s not a normal seven-year-old. She would be a great reality TV star.”

Every day, Layla applies make up and styles her hair before leaving the house.

The youngster has made her own documentary style videos about her life which she hopes to upload to You Tube.

And she even has her own Instagram, Twitter and Star Now Account - for up and coming models, actors and dancers.

Layla, who is home schooled, has been dancing since the age of five and has competed in national competitions.

She was recently selected to represent Durham in international beauty pageant Miss British Empire at the end of August.

And she has also been offered the chance to represent the UK in Junior Model International and Miss Superglobe held in India this September.

Miss Eastland added: “Layla just wants to be doing something either dance competitions on pageants she’s always asking me ‘have we got anything this weekend?’ she’s bored of real life - it’s not for her.”