A Twickenham teen has won a place in a national beauty pageant.

Ella-Louise Rees, 17, entered a pageant a few months ago and won the title of Miss Teen Thorpe Galaxy 2017/18.

She said: “It was a complete shock.

“To be honest I had forgotten I applied and then I got an email saying they were happy to give me a place and I was given a title.

“It’s been great because I’ve been doing a lot of charity events- I’d never really done anything like that before.

“On Christmas morning I’ll be going to a surgical and medical unit for children in St Peter’s Hospital to give out presents.”

Your Local Guardian: Ella has really enjoyed doing more for charity 

Ella, who went to Hurst Lodge School in Ascot, currently works with her dad exporting commercial vehicles but hopes to follow career in modelling.

She said: “I would love to see where the pageants take me.

“It’s good for your confidence and it’s great for meeting new people.

“I’ve met so many girls and some live minutes from me.”

The first-place hopeful has been “trying really hard” to prepare in the lead up to Miss Teen Galaxy England, Scotland and Wales, which will take place in March, and will also be getting some practice in at charity pageant Miss Teen Greater London Sensational.

If she wins in March, the aspiring model will fly to Orlando, Florida, to take part in the international Miss Teen Galaxy.

If successful, Ella said: “I would be over the moon.

“It would the experience of a lifetime and a chance to do something I never even dreamed of.”