A Launceston teen has set her sights on being crowned best in the country as she prepares for the finals of a prestigious national competition. 

Dexy Souter, 15, from Launceston College, has big hopes for later this year as she has reached the finals of the Miss Junior Teen Great Britain (MJT GB) pageant competition. 

MJT GB is a nationwide pageant for girls aged 10 to 19 years old which aims to create a positive and confidence-building experience for young girls and teenagers. 

Dexy got involved with pageantry back in September last year.

Wanting to learn more about the competitions, she threw her hat in the ring and decided to enter the national MJT GB competition. 

Speaking to the Post, Dexy explained: “I started off by just applying with my name, photos of me, and answering a few questions.” 

After  flying through the first stage of applications, Dexy was offered a spot in the semi-finals. 

“There was a big interview, asking questions like ‘why I deserve to be in Miss Junior Teen Great Britain and how I would spend my year as Miss Junior Teen Great Britain, for example,” she explained. 

Dexy continued: “From there I got an email back a few weeks later offering me a space in the grand finals, making me Miss Junior Teen Cornwall 2023!” 

For Dexy, this experience means more than anything else.

She said: “Taking part in Miss Teen Great Britain means everything to me, already it is the best experience I’ve ever been given and I’m so grateful to have already got this far. So many people I look up to have competed and taken part in Miss Teen Great Britain, and I’m beyond grateful to be following in their footsteps.” 

As well as hoping to crown a deserving champion, this competition also has a charity at its heart. 

Contestants are tasked with raising money for Together for Short Lives, a charity which hopes to support young people and their families with life-threatening conditions, have the most fulfilling lives as possible and experience the best end-of-life care. 

Dexy has already raised hundreds for the charity, but hopes to raise even more. 

“So far, I have raised £430 for Together for Short Lives. It has only been two weeks and I’m already almost half way to £1,000. 

“I never would have expected to get so much feedback and support from people all over the UK, but so many people have donated already and I’m so grateful.” 

Dexy also hopes to use her love of music to push her fundraising even further. 

“My future fundraising plans include releasing music. Since the age of three, I have been singing and I want to incorporate that into competing for Miss Teen Great Britain. All the money earned from releasing music and performing will be going into my Just Giving page for Together for Short Lives! It truly is such an amazing charity and I am honoured to be playing my part.”

The MJT GB finals take place in Blackpool later this year and Dexy hopes to represent Cornwall and bring the crown home.