A DUDLEY schoolgirl is celebrating with a collection of sparkling crowns and sashes, after triumphing in a national beauty contest.

Alexia Bates, aged 10, was not only named pre-teen winner, but also won the overall Mini Supreme contest in the Miss Natural Sparkle pageant.

The St Joseph’s RC Primary School pupil beat off over 50 competitors at the event, held in Lincoln on April 1 and returned home with a car full of prizes, including a laptop, two bouquets of flowers, jewellery, handbags, make-up, toiletries as well as a modelling contract with a Manchester-based agency.

As part of the pageant rules, competitors showcased their natural beauty and were only allowed to wear a minimal amount of make-up, with no fake tan, hair pieces or heavy make-up seen in typical American-style pageants allowed.

Mum April, said: “Alexia was over the moon to win and I secretly really wanted her to do well in this pageant in particular as it was all about their natural beauty and not like the ones where more is better.

“I try to encourage her and her older sister, Raven, that they don’t need to wear lots of make-up because they are beautiful anyway and don’t need it.”