An aspiring model and make-up artist has won a place in the grand finals of a national beauty pageant.

Gabrielle Joseph, of Harringay Green Lanes, said she was very excited to have won through to the final of Miss Junior Teen Great Britain, beating off competition from across the country.

The 15-year-old, who also won Miss Teen Caribbean UK 2014, said: “I chose to enter because I have done a pageant before and really enjoyed it, and it gave me a lot of confidence. I really didn’t expect to get to the final.

“When they called me up to say I was through, I was shocked because there were lots of great applicants, and I thought I would not have much of a chance.

“I got in because of my experience. I entered my first pageant, Miss Teen Caribbean, and I ended up winning, which was brilliant.”

She also said that she had been helped out by her friends at school, Skinner’s Academy in Manor House, her mother Maria and older sister and younger brother.

Her 25-year-old sister recently won Miss Trinidad and Tobago UK.

She added: “It will come down to my experience of pageants if I’m going to win. It was difficult to get to this stage.”

“To any girls interested in fashion, I would say just go for it and believe in yourself. When I first wanted to do make-up I just picked up little tips from my mum and sister – I was interested in make-up, so I decided to do it.

“I looked on YouTube, I didn’t get professional training. I just experimented.”

Gabrielle, who is also interested in drama and goes to a dance school, recently modelled and did make up at London Fashion Week.

She said: “That was a really different experience, but an exciting one as well. It was my first time modelling with real professionals.

“It is not something that I get to do every day.”

The grand final of Miss Teen Great Britain will be held at the end of October in Blackpool and the winner will walk away with £500.