A PONTELAND teenager is working hard to prove pageant queens are more than just a crown and a sash.

Juliette Taylor (14) was named Royal UK Miss Junior Teen at a pageant in Blackpool last month.

Now, she is keen to dispel the stigma surrounding pageants while raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Juliette, who attends Ponteland High School, had been fund-raising tirelessly in the run up to the pageant.

Something which has not gone unnoticed by the judges, as she has won the title of Miss Charity at every pageant she has entered.

Juliette has raised £2,306 for Christie Cancer Charity and more than £2,000 for Together for Short Lives.

As part of her pageant duties she appears at events, donating to food banks and holding charity raffles.

And Juliette’s fund-raising efforts are still continuing, with a range of charity calendars in production.

She has teamed up with photographer Joe Laws to create a calendar made up of enchanted fairy shoots for children which will be available to buy from September.

Also a dancer, Juliette took part in her first pageant just six months ago, coming an impressive third.

“I enjoy pageants because they are similar to what I do with dance, being on stage and presenting yourself,” she said.

“I love getting my hair and make-up done and wearing the dresses. I also love the charity work side.

“When I found out I had won I was so happy I cried.”

Alongside the coveted crown and sash, Juliette also has the chance to compete in America and is looking forward to going to Orlando next summer.

She added: “I would encourage anyone to enter a pageant even if they are not sure. They boost your confidence so much.

“I know people who did their first one and looked so worried and they are now so confident.

“You never know you might end up winning a crown and a trip to America.”

Juliette hopes to continue with pageants but for now she is busy preparing for the role of Sandy in her school’s production of Grease and studying for her GCSEs.