Miss Teen dream alive for beauties

Teen beauties from the Midlands will be going head to head in a bid to become a national beauty queen.

Abigail Cutler from Rowley Regis and Charlotte Homer from Dudley have beaten hundreds of hopefuls to represent the Black Country and Dudley respectively in the Miss Teen Great Britain competition.

The 18-year-olds will battle other teenagers from across the country, including counterparts in Walsall, Sandwell, Staffordshire and Birmingham at the final in Blackpool on September 25 in Blackpool.

Charlotte was just 14 when she first entered a beauty competition and she reached the finals. Following discussion of the extremes of beauty pageants – for the very young and very old – in the Express & Star's newly launched "Lou's Women" forum, Charlotte said: "I don't think it matters what age girls enter these pageants, provided they want to do it.

"I don't approve of girls as young as two being forced to do it if they're crying but, if they are smiling and happy, why not?"

Auburn-haired Charlotte, who lives in Awbridge Road, Netherton, has just finished a performing arts course at Dudley College, where she is about to return to study music.

As part of her beauty queen trail Charlotte has been raising cash for Stourbridge's Mary Stevens Hospice.

Abigail, a former performing arts student at Halesowen College who lives in Harvest Road, dreams of starring on the West End. She said: "Before the final I am doing a lot of charity work like visiting hospitals and charity fundraisers.

"When we get there it will be down to personality. I want to be a positive role model, I want people to look at me and I want to inspire people."