A NORTH-East teenager is hoping to be crowned Miss Teen Earth UK next month (May).

Alisha Cowie, 16, will represent County Durham in the national final of the eco-minded beauty contest in Birmingham on May 6 and 7.

The Spennymoor teenager, who studies health and social care at New College Durham and works part-time as a waitress at the Park Head Hotel near Coundon, said: “It’s a huge dream of mine to be in the final of Miss Teen Earth and winning would be the cherry on the cake.

“Miss Earth is a unique pageant as it gives a positive message from promoting environmental awareness across the world.

“The country winners are not only natural and intelligent, they also share a love of the planet.”

If Miss Cowie, a former pupil of St John’s Catholic School in Bishop Auckland, wins she will be the face of a campaign to promote reducing, reusing and recycling waste.

Having qualified for the national final on the basis of submitted photographs and an online interview, she will face three rounds of modelling, of evening wear, swim wear and a black dress, plus an interview and will face competition from around 60 other hopefuls.