A TEENAGER soared through the first stages of a beauty competition after being scouted while on an afternoon out with friends.

Shelbie Sinclair, 16, was at a showing of Britain’s Next Top Model Live at the ExCel Centre, Docklands, when she was spotted by scouts from the Miss Teen Queen UK competition.

After asking her if she would like to take part in the contest, they arranged a photoshoot.

The youngster, from Clayhall, said she was thrilled to find out she was chosen to go through to the heats stage.

She said: “When they first asked me if I wanted to take part I was laughing because I didn’t think they were serious.

“When they phoned my mum to say I had a photoshoot I was really excited and I was really pleased when I was chosen.”

Shelbie beat off competition from around 10,000 other entrants to reach the heats.

She is now among 100 girls whose profiles will go to the public vote on the competitions website.

The top two will go through to the final and could win a host of beauty treatments and make up as well as a chance to travel abroad and enjoy a taste of life as a model.

Shelbie said: “It is something I’m interested in doing more of. The photo shoot was really fun.”

Mum Francesca added: “We didn’t expect anything to come of it but its just gone on and on.

“I’ll be sending all the voting details round to family and friends and hopefully she will get through to the final.”

For details on how to vote for Shelbie log onto: www.missteenqueenuk.com