A TEENAGER from north Durham is hoping to become one of the region’s next beauty queens.

Skye Griggs, from Sacriston, is in the finals of the Miss Sunderland competition.

If she wins the Wearside crown she will go into the finals of national Miss England competition.

The 16-year-old, who is currently sitting her GCSE exams at St Leonards School in Durham, said: “I love modelling and it is something I have always wanted to do. I enjoy doing anything like this.”

Skye, who wants to become a paediatric nurse when she is older, has been sponsored by Auton Style, a hair and beauty salon in Bearpark, and has raised around £550 for Sunderland Women’s Refuge and the Beauty with a Purpose charity.

She has also made Las Vegas showgirl outfit out of peacock and ostrich feathers and recorded some songs in a studio for the competition.

The final of the contest is at The Point in Sunderland on June 11.

Her mother, Marie Woodhouse, said: “I am very excited about it and hope she wins. She is working very hard and, on top of that, studying for her exams. Most of the village are behind her.”

To support her charity fundraising log on to: virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=SkyeGriggs