A 16-YEAR-OLD from Heversham has made it through to the national finals of a beauty pageant.

Charis Knipe was crowned Miss Belle Scotland in the teen category of the competition.

She is now through to the national finals which will take place in Lytham in August, as well an all expenses paid trip to the international finals in Spain.

"My mum entered me into Junior Miss Cumbria without telling me," Charis explained, talking about how she began to take part in pageants. "I was not very impressed!"

However, after making it to the finals of Junior Miss Cumbria and enjoying the experience, she decided to look for similar competitions.

"It's given me quite a lot of confidence and all the people there are so lovely," she said.

Charis, who attends Dallam School, Milnthorpe, had to raise money for charity and in the final itself showed off different styles of clothing, including every day wear and prom wear.

Mum, Gillian, explained how her daughter had raised £140 for the Ronald McDonald House.

"To raise money she and her boyfriend decided to do a sports swap," she said. "Charis is a horse rider and he is a mountain biker so they had a little go at each others sports."

Charis said that the Grizedale route was 'fun' but a 'challenge' as she had 'no idea' what she was doing - frustratingly, her boyfriend proved to be a 'natural' at horse riding.

Ahead of the August final, Charis will have to do more charity fundraising as well as make appearances in the local area.