A beauty queen hopeful from Thamesmead wants to celebrate beauty of women from different ethnic backgrounds when she takes part in a pageant next month.

Constance Iloghalu, 24, has been whittled down from hundreds of entrants in the final of Miss Africa Great Britain 2018.

The competition, which will take place on October 13 at the Royal Regency Hall in London, has been running since 2011.

"I have always been interested in beauty pageants because I liked what they represented.

"This pageant is relatively new but it has achieved so many amazing things," Constance told News Shopper.

Each year, the winner of the pageant is given the chance to return to her home African country to carry out a charity mission.

Past Miss Africa winners have been to orphanages in Zimbabwe, deprived villages in Congo and schools in Cameroon.

If Constance wins this year, she wants to travel to Anambra State in Nigeria to donate supplies to primary school children.

"I really believe education is the key out of poverty," she said.

Constance, who is originally from Lewisham, thinks it is important the pageant is run in October every year - which is Black History Month.

"It's important to see people from different backgrounds to help with body image, especially black females.

"It's nice to see women who look like you in the spotlight."