A TEEN beauty queen is preparing to represent her home town in a national contest to find Miss Teen Great Britain.

Emily Austin, 18, from Romanby, Northallerton, has got through to the finals of Miss Teen North Yorkshire and Miss Teen GB after seeing off hundreds of competitors from the region.

Miss Austin also has to raise as much cash as she can for Miss Teen North Yorkshire's charity – Candlelighters children’s cancer charity.

She said: “I started modelling last year and entered Miss Teen North Yorkshire, which will be on June 3, and I thought I would also give Miss Teen Great Britain a go too.

“For Miss Teen GB, out of 300 contestants 60 were chosen for the final in Blackpool in October so it is amazing to be selected.

“We have to raise money and awareness for their chosen charities and take part in a number of charitable appearances.

“Although the charity chosen by Miss Teen North Yorkshire was Candlelighters, I’m passionate about the Teenage Cancer Trust as I lost a friend to cancer.”

Miss Austin has raised £750 so far by running cake sales, race nights and other sponsored events – which she has to fit in around her studies for her A Levels at Northallerton College.

She has also made a ‘eco dress’ out of fashion magazines as part of her Miss Teen North Yorkshire pageant and said she hopes to study fashion journalism - but is also keen to see how far the pageants take her.

She said: “Making it to the grand final is a dream come true – fingers crossed I will be able to win the Miss Teen Great Britain crown and make my family and Northallerton proud.

“I am also lucky enough to have a fantastic sponsor, JG's Hair and Beauty owned by Julie Dickens.”