A determined Mansfield teenager is aiming to raise money for charity and highlight a disease that affects her everyday life as she contests the finals of a national competition.

Emily Plant, 14, will represent North Mansfield at Miss Junior Teen Great Britain in Blackpool.

All contestants will be raising money for Together For Short Lives, a UK charity that helps children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions.

Emily, of Mansfield, will also be promoting the work of Coeliac UK, a charity that helps people with coeliac disease.

The Brunts Academy student wants to raise awareness of the disease, which she has suffered from for several years.

Having the disease means eating out is difficult for the teenager and she has to combat bloating, nausea, anaemia, fatigue and concentration problems, among others.

She knows all about the difficulties it causes many people every day and hopes that through raising awareness both places and people might become more gluten friendly.

She said: “I am so excited and nervous about the competition. I hope I can do Mansfield proud.”

Emily qualified for the final through a Facebook vote. She decided to enter because she wanted to do some charity work and build her confidence after being bullied because of her coeliac problems.

Earlier this year Coeliac UK was her chosen charity when she entered the Miss Mansfield and Sherwood Forest competition.

Emily said she wanted to show people that pageants were not just about what was on the outside, but also about what was on the inside — and what good the competitions could achieve.

Organisers of Miss Junior Teen GB also stressed that the competition was not just a beauty pageant, but was about building young people’s confidence and helping charities.

The winner will win £500, dresses from The Dress Studio, and more at the final on Sunday, 21st October at The Globe in Blackpool.

Emily is being sponsored for the event by a local businesswoman, Jane Box, of Simply Healthy.

To raise money for Together For Short Lives, Emily has set up a JustGiving page — Emily’s Miss Junior Teen GB 2018 page — is collecting and weighing in unwanted clothes and shoes; held a World Cup sweepstake; and is planning further fundraisers.

She is also making appearances at other functions and anyone who would like Emily to attend their event should contact claire [email protected]

Her proud parents, Andy and Claire Plant, said: “We are extremely proud of Emily as she has had a rough few years but still gets up and goes for what she believes in.

“She is beautiful and kind, and always thinks of others.”

Emily, who plays guitar, loves dancing and attends Happy Feet Dance Studio, Mansfield Woodhouse, five days a week.

She wants to be a dance teacher when she leaves school and said her biggest inspiration was her dance teacher, Joanne Wilson.