A BASINGSTOKE beauty is in the running to become Miss Hampshire.

Louisa Emery, a 23-year-old beauty therapist, is in with a chance of competing in the Miss England pageant, having been selected from hundreds of applicants online.

Louisa said: “I’ve never entered anything like this before, it was just something I thought I would try.

“I didn’t expect anything to come from it and I didn’t expect to get through.”

As part of her role as a Miss Hampshire finalist, Louisa is raising money for Naomi House children’s hospice, having been inspired by the story of little Jayden Wilson, from Basingstoke.

Jayden was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour in August 2013, aged just four, and lost his battle with the illness on Christmas Eve 2014, aged five.

He was cared for by the charity before he passed away and his family are raising money for the hospice, in Sutton Scotney, in his memory.

Louisa, a former Basingstoke College of Technology student, explained: “I wanted to raise money for a local cause and I knew I wanted to support the hospice after I heard about what they did for Jayden.”

She is hosting a charity day at the King of Wessex, in Winchester Road, Kings Furlong, on Saturday, March 7.

Events, held throughout the day, will include sponsored waxing, children’s face-painting, food, a pool competition and hand massages.

The day will run from 2pm until midnight and local band Sugarman Sam and The Voodoo Men will be performing live in the evening.

Louisa, who lives in the town centre, will take part in the Miss Hampshire final in mid-March.

She will compete against other women to represent the county in six different categories – Miss Hampshire Charity Queen, Miss Hampshire Eco Queen, Miss Hampshire Photogenic Queen, Miss Hampshire PR Queen, Miss Hampshire Talent Queen and Miss Hampshire Social Media Queen.

The winner of the Miss Hampshire crown will then go on to represent the county in the prestigious Miss England contest.