A 13-year-old schoolgirl is asking the public to help make her wish come true and vote her through to the next stage of a national beauty pageant.

Voters have until New Year's Day to register their support for Victoria Casey, from Long Stratton, who is competing in the Teen Queen UK competition.

The aspiring model is one of 50 girls listed in the latest heat of the competition's Teen Princess category. The top two youngsters as voted for by the public will be sent through to the grand final in London in August.

Victoria entered the pageant while visiting Britain's Next Top Model Live at ExCel London in October where the competition organisers took her photo. She received a letter about a month later saying she had been chosen to take part.

'Me and my mum were at Next Top Model Live where I was hoping to find an agent but there wasn't really many around. I went over to them and it was all a bit spontaneous. They took my photo. I didn't really think anything of it. I was really excited when the letter come through,' she said.

The teenager was then treated to a professional photo shoot before the lines opened for voting on December 16. She hopes the pageant will act as a springboard into a modelling career.

She said: 'From what I have seen on Britain's Next Top Model it looks really fun and they get to meet lots of different people.'

To vote for Victoria, text 'Victoria Casey' to 84205. For more information, visit www.missteenqueenuk.com