An aspiring teenage model from Ilford is hoping to win a place in the next Miss World contest.

Lauren Peters, 17, is among the youngest of the 60 finalists in Miss England, who will be crowned on June 26.

The student, who is a regular volunteer at Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, earned a place by winning the “Miss Fresh Teen” competition in December. The Miss England prize is a trip to Mauritius and the opportunity to take part in the Miss World pageant in China.

Lauren is hoping her singing skills will help her succeed in the talent contest category.

For the eco round, she will don an outfit made from recyclable materials including matchsticks and toilet rolls, designed with the help of her grandmother.

Currently balancing her modelling career with her AS exam studies, Lauren wants to win because of the charitable work entailed. “People think pageants are just about make-up,” she said. “But they are about so much more.”