‘BEAUTY with a purpose’ is the message being sent out by one Herefordshire teenager who has her sights on a global competition.

Erin White, 14, from Shobdon, has her eyes set on competing in the Miss Teen Galaxy competition in Florida later this year but first she must clinch the Welsh crown.

Despite her beauty queen aspirations the Wigmore High School pupil wants to raise as much money for charity as she can in the process.

As part of her fundraising Erin will be holding a charity ‘Fit a Thon’ outside Waitrose, Old Market Hereford, on Saturday in aid of The Christie Cancer Hospital.

Her mother Laura White said that as part of the beauty pageant the contestants have to raise money for its chosen charity.

She said: “Last year £16,000 was raised by the girls so it’s not just about a pretty face.

“The Hereford Round Table have organised an exercise bike for us which we are hoping to keep going all day with the help of friends.

 “Erin has strong connections to the round table and rotary club and supports a lot of their local fundraising.

“Last year she was a finalist in Miss Teen GB and raised over £1,000 for charity by doing a sponsored silence, holding cake stalls and doing a sponsored bag pack.

“It’s beauty with a purpose.”

After already being crowned Miss Teen Hereford, Erin will compete for the Miss Teen Galaxy Wales title next weekend when she will represent Cardiff as her home city.

The winner will go forward to compete in Miss Teen Galaxy in Florida in August.

Judges mark contestants on various clothing categories before interviewing them. Girls are also marked on their charity work.

Erin is following in her mother’s footsteps who was crowned Miss GB Wales, Mrs England in 1992 and was Welsh model of the year.

“It is wonderful that Erin is now competing," added her mother.

“She placed in the top seven in Miss junior Teen Great Britain last October and won Miss Congeniality.

“She has made the semi-final again this year for Miss Junior Teen Great Britain so fingers crossed she makes the final again which is held in October in Blackpool.”