A TEENAGE model from Teesdale is hoping to make it through to the finals of a national contest.

Laura Fitzgerald, 19, from Woodland, near Barnard Castle, beat off competition from thousands of girls to make it into the regional heats of the Face of Divinity competition.

The former Staindrop School student is battling it out with 100 other girls from the north to make it to the finals, to be held in London, in November.

The winner of the competition will become the face of Divinity Models. Miss Fitzgerald started modelling when she left school.

Her first photo shoot was far from glamorous though, after she appeared in a campaign for the charity Barnardos.

She said: "I had to be a teenage mum, so I had two children. I had to wear quite scruffy clothes and they pulled my hair right back. It was quite strange, but a really good experience. My family are always really supportive."

Miss Fitzgerald was runner-up in this year's Miss Durham competition.

"The Face of Divinity Competition is great because you can have curves and just be happy to be yourself."

To vote for Miss Fitzgerald, text North91 to 60777.