A SCHOOLGIRL has reached the finals of a national beauty contest.

Katie Lax will compete in the Junior Miss Galaxy UK pageant on Saturday, March 24, after triumphing in the County Durham heats.

If she wins the national competition, the 12-year-old will represent her country in the international contest in Orlando, Florida.

As part of the competition, Katie, from Byers Green, near Spennymoor, is raising funds for the Christie Charitable Fund, a cancer care charity, and the anti-bullying charity BulliesOut.

Katie has received sponsorship from Simon’s Mobile Caravan Repairs in Byers Green, and has already completed a bag pack.

On January 28, she will host a charity fashion show at Chilton Working Men's Club, followed by a pageant on March 18 at the same venue.

A pupil at King James I Academy, in Bishop Auckland, she also hopes to take on the UK’s longest zip slide and will share the sponsorship money between The Christie Charity and The Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust, based in Spennymoor.

Katie’s mother, Lorraine Lax, said: “I am very proud of her. She is really enjoying herself, which makes me happy.”

Tickets for the events cost £5 and are available from Ms Lax on 07719-889120.