A WEE County beauty pageant finalist is pulling out all the stops to raise money for a worthwhile charity.

Ava Blaney (10), who is currently Miss Junior Central Scotland, will run for Miss Junior Scotland Crown and Glory later this year.

However, there is much more to the competition than glamour for the Tullibody youngster, who has thrown herself into community work and fundraising in a bid to secure the crown.

She said: “I like doing pageants as they’re so much fun and you get to meet new people. My favourite part of pageants is getting my princess dress and crown on.

“I also love the run-up to it with all the community work and fundraising I do. The reason I like doing what I do is that I wanted to make a difference in peoples’ lives and if my fundraising can help save one person that makes me happy.” Ava is raising awareness and funds for the Dean Pupplet Appeal and NCCA UK in honour of eight-year-old Dean, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of three.

No stranger to the beauty world, she first started competing in pageants over a year ago when she entered Miss UK Dreams Scotland.

She went on to win the Overall Directors Choice and a place in the UK final.

Since then, along with her fundraising, she double supremed at Miss Winter Sparkle and at Miss Easter Sparkle won Easter Supreme, Beauty Supreme, Grand Supreme and Ultimate Grand Supreme.

It’s a good experience for her and mum Lindsay Davies is proud of what she has achieved.

The 36-year-old said: “Although the glamour is great we don’t want to forget the importance of why Ava is doing this. She is fundraising for Dean Pupplet and NCCA. Dean is an eight year-old boy who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer when he was three.

“Ava has been selling wristbands collecting with tins everywhere boot sales and backpacking.

“I’m happy with the pageants. Although it’s glamorous and fun it’s the community and charity work that’s more appealing as Ava has a mature outlook and thrives on helping others. She is an inspiration and I’m so proud of her.” Ava will compete for Miss Junior Scotland Crown and Glory on Sunday 27 September.