A SIXTH-FORM student taking part in her first beauty contest has been crowned Miss Sunderland.

Teenager Philippa Attle, from Chester-le-Street, was persuaded to take part after her mother, Beverley, put her name forward.

And in the finals at Rainton Meadows Arena, near Durham City, she beat nearly 30 rivals to take the title and goes on to represent the city in the Miss England finals, to be held in July, in Birmingham.

Joining her will be Anastasia Smith, 20, from Norton, near Malton, North Yorkshire, who has been crowned Miss York.

Miss Attle, 17, said: “I have never done anything like this before – it was such a shock to win.”

She is studying A-level history, English, psychology and product design at Park View Community School, in her home town.

A crowd of about 1,000 watched the final, co-hosted by Tyne Tees presenter Philippa Tomson and event organiser Simon Robertson, which raised more than £5,000 for Grace House Children’s Hospice.

Miss Attle, presented with her crown by last year’s winner Tamzin Cummings, said: “It was nerve-wracking on the night – my legs were quivering.”

Meanwhile, Miss York intends to use her title to raise awareness of severe asthma, a condition she has had since a young age.

“I know how traumatic and scary it can be to suffer from asthma. I had a very difficult time in school,” said Miss Smith, who also underwent two operations for a hole-inthe- heart condition as a child.

She was crowned at the Royal York Hotel on Sunday and is also being lined up to take part in a music video with singer Paolo Nutini.

Until recently, she worked as a make-up artist at Fenwicks in York but her long-term ambition is to become an equine dentist.