A TEENAGER from the North-East is representing the region in a national beauty pageant.

Shakira Hannan, 13, from Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, has been named as Miss Junior Teen County Durham.

The youngster, who is home schooled, will be taking part in the grand final in Blackpool in October and hopes to be crowned Miss Junior Teen Great Britain.

Shakira, who already works a model and hopes to work in the beauty industry as a make-up artist when she is older, said: “It is really important to me. I cannot believe it. I would love to win it.”

Shakira is being sponsored in the competition by Ritual Beauty and Skin Centre in her home village.

She was entered by her mother, Andrea Hannan, who said: “We are over the moon for her. We did not expect to go this far.”