A model and community campaigner from Wembley took part in her very first catwalk at the start of her preparations for this year’s Miss Teen Africa beauty pageant.

Monique Narh, 17, strutted her stuff for crowds at the West Ham’s Kenya in the Park festival last week alongside fellow hopefuls in this year’s nationwide search for Miss Teen Africa UK.

Ms Narh, who hopes to take the crown for her mother’s native Ghana, said: “ I was kind of nervous before the show as I had to make a two-minute speech as well as model the clothes but so many people I wasn’t expecting to turn up came to support me.”

The beauty pageant hopeful, who is studying for A-Levels at Christ’s College in Finchley, beat off competition from hundreds of young women of African descent to become a contender in this year’s final, which will be held at Stratford Town Hall on November 14.

Following her catwalk debut, Ms Narh will embark on a ‘bootcamp’ to prepare her for the final showdown, in which she will not only compete on catwalk skills but also display her singing talent and make a short speech about her ambitions to set up a charity to support young British Africans.

The model, who is excited and feeling positive about her chances in the competition, said:“I really love spending time with the Miss Teen Africa girls- we are all interested in setting up charities and helping young people.

“I love young people who are passionate.”

If she is crowned Miss Teen Africa, Ms Narh will take up a role as an ambassador for young African people across the UK and will also receive bursaries and funding to support her studies and charitable endeavours.

For more information on Ms Narh’s journey to Miss Teen Africa and to vote for her visit her facebook page Monique4MissTeenAfricaUK.