By Faye Hutton (Journalism student)

A LOCAL student at Teesside University has made it to the final of the “Miss Newcastle“ beauty pageant.
Lauren Wells, 18, of Lowther Drive, Woodham will be competing against 20 other girls for the title on Friday, June 5th at Newcastle Civic Centre.
Miss Newcastle, a beauty pageant run by Tyne Tees Models, Northumbria, offered Miss Wells a slot in the competition after she filled in an application form online and attended a professional photo-shoot.
Miss Wells studies Adult Nursing at Teesside University and in her spare time has participated in charity events and fundraisers in the North East in aid of Tiny Lives, a charity which supports special care babies and is one of the many North East charities that Miss Newcastle and Tyne Tees models support.
Alongside fundraising Miss Wells received third place in the Miss Bijoux competition, in Newcastle, this then gained her the place in the final 20 girls of Miss Newcastle.
The competition donates all their proceeds to charities throughout the North East and has a large support for Tiny Lives special care babies.
Lauren Wells said: “I participated in charity events and fundraisers in the north East in aid of Tiny Lives, I think all the charity work is set up with great efforts and everyone who is involved shows their dedication, I think it’s a really good way to raise money and also fun.”
Lesley Lisper, from Tyne Tees Models, Northumbria: “We work with different charities in the North East and Tiny Lives was brought to my attention by friend with a special care baby, it was clear that lots of other people had friends and family with tiny live babies so we gained a great response from the charity work we do.
The Expectations of competition this year is 400 VIP, 200 standing and our sponsor tables are filling quick, so yes it’s going to be a big one this year with lots of entertainment and charity prizes.”
For more information go to: www.missnewcastle.com

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