Pageant-loving teenager Jessica Allan is preparing for a UK-wide competition at the end of this month with the chance to clinch a dream trip to Florida.
The 14-year-old from Fallin has been competing since the age of six and has raised more than £40,000 for good causes while taking part in the contests.
Jessica currently holds the title of Junior Miss Stirling Galaxy and is competing in the Junior Miss Galaxy awards in Manchester on March 25 - with the winner securing a trip to represent the UK at the Galaxy International Pageant in Orlando.
As part of her preparations for the event, Jessica has raised more than £3,000 via an online page for the event’s chosen charity - The Christie NHS Trust in Manchester - alongside continuing her own support of Parkinson’s charities after her grandfather was diagnosed in 2019.
Jessica’s mum Tammie told the Observer: “Pageants are something Jessica has been involved in since an early age but the older she is getting, the more competitive it gets and it leads on to big titles and internationals.
“She’s competing in this event against girls from all over the UK and will be representing Stirling, with the winner going on to try for the international title.
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“A lot of people think that it is just about standing on a stage but it is more than that, the interviews she does are one of the biggest parts of the competition and that is something that will help her with interviewing for jobs in the future.
“Each pageant tends to have its own chosen charity so Jessica has raised £3,000 for the Christie and I think the overall total for all of the girls taking part is around £18,000 so that’s really good for the charity.”
Tammie admits it’s a gruelling schedule as Jessica trains for the competition and also hailed the support of local businesses that have got behind her daughter in her effort to realise her pageant dream - including the Golden Lion hotel and My Glitter Box.
Tammie added: “She’s really excited for the competition and she’s been travelling to Newcastle for training, so that’s three hours there and back and two hours training, so it’s quite intense. She gets face-to-face training for things like the interviews as well as FaceTime training as well.
“Jessica has also been keen to help the community as well as the charities, she’s donating items to the foodbank and also to Cash 4 Clothes as well.
“It’s really nice to get the support from local businesses.”
