A Carshalton teenager has reached the semi-finals of the 2018 Miss Junior Teen Great Britain competition.

Leah Finnegan, 13, will now compete with 10 others from around the United Kingdom for a place in the final at The Globe in Blackpool on October 22 and 23.

The winner of it all will take home some unique prizes such as pamper packages, jewellery, and £500.

Leah told Sutton Guardian: “I am so excited to have made it to the semi-final, it is a great achievement!

“Making it to the grand final would be a dream come true. Fingers crossed I will be able to represent my hometown and win the Miss [Junior] Teen Great Britain crown.”

The weekend of the competition, which also includes Little and Miss Teen Great Britain, will include a ‘Beauty Challenge Day’ as well as a pyjama dive party.

Proud mum Shellina Finnegan, 39 said: “She is very pleased. She is more pleased about the fact that she has a chance to raise money for this charity that Miss Teen Great Britain is involved with, Together for Short Lives.

“She is cycling five miles to raise money for that charity in preparation for the final, so she is really excited about it. She is hoping to get a place in the final but she is doing lots of stuff, for example charity, and this is the first time she has been selected for anything like this. So she is very excited.”

The winner of the Miss Junior Teen Great Britain competition will be announced the weekend of October 22 and 23.

To see Leah's JustGiving page, click here.