Katie's hoping for a crowning achievement

Katie-Jayne Brady, 14, won a spot in the final ahead of 500 other hopeful girls after she applied to the Miss Junior Preston pageant at the beginning of January.

The Millfield High School student, who lives in Carleton, impressed the expert judging panel with her fund-raising work for children’s charity Variety, which helps disabled youngsters fulfil their potential by providing them with wheelchairs and mobility aids.

She said: “The reason I wanted to be in it was to make friends with people who like the same things, build confidence and help raise money and awareness for my charities.

“I’ve been singing at restaurants on Saturday nights to raise money. I’m thinking of doing a cake sale at school and a car wash service as well. I’ve raised £300 in a week.”

Katie-Jayne will be called to a one-to-one interview with the judging panel later this month, before taking to the stage in a catwalk, where contestants will show off formal dresses, party clothes, sportswear and home-made historical costumes ranging from Victorian ballgowns to the leotards and leg warmers of the 1980s.

Her mum Andrea, 47, said: “I didn’t even know about it until Katie came downstairs one day and she said ‘I’ve applied for Junior Miss Preston’. She’s a determined girl and if she decides she’s going to do something she sees it through.

“She just put her name down probably thinking she wouldn’t hear anything back, so when we got the note saying she was in the final she was so happy. She was jumping up and down.

“I think she would fit the part and do everything in her power to fill to role.”

Katie-Jayne now hopes her beauty pageant success will help kick-start her aspiring acting career.

She said: “I’ve been in the background in plays but I haven’t done anything major yet. I’m going for another audition for an Aunt Betty’s commercial soon though!”