A student from Bellingham has vowed to set up a youth club in the area if she is crowned Miss Teen Africa UK 2015.

Dumebi Okeke, of Carstairs Road will represent her parents’ native Nigeria in the final of the beauty pageant at Stratford Town Hall on November 14, after stumbling across the competition by chance.

The 18-year-old said: "Over the summer I was a bit bored and I found this online.

"I really wanted to do something to represent my country because I’m very passionate about my heritage.

"I have so many people back home supporting me and even though I live in the UK I’m still very connected to Nigeria."

Okeke has made her catwalk debut en route to the final and has also appeared at events like Africa Fashion Week, Kenya in the Park and continues to campaign at shopping malls and parks across London.

The winner of the pageant will receive support from the Miss Teen Africa UK organisation and her fellow contestants to set up a charity.

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And for Okeke that means establishing a youth club for 13 to 19-year-olds in south east London.

She added: "I really want somewhere for young people to go where they can talk to people about things."

Okeke, who is studying health and social care at Christ the King Sixth Form College in Lewisham, admits her decision to enter the competition took friends by surprise.

She said: "At first people were shocked because they didn’t think I would be the kind of person that would get into pageants.

"They thought I was more laid back, but it’s a great opportunity to do something in the community.

"Now I have people coming up to me and saying ‘I’ve voted for you’ and it’s great that people are supporting me."

To follow Okeke's progress or support her campaign click here.