LISBELLAW teen, Sarah-Jayne Makhlouf will be taking on the ‘ultimate’ beauty pageant challenge this Easter.


The 18-year-old A-level student at Collegiate Grammar School is competing in the Ultimate Beauty of the World International Beauty Pageant.
Entering the final as the ‘Ultimate Beauty of Tunisia 2016’, Sarah-Jayne is participating in a number of fundraising events in the run up to the final on Match 27.


Originally known as the Ultimate Beauty of the UK and Ireland, the pageant with a difference has now expanded, welcoming entries from across the globe.


According to its website it “drives fun, friendship, confidence building, inner beauty and freedom of choice”.
Its director, 23-year-old teen beauty queen, Taylor-Rae Hamilton from Banbridge says her pageant is designed to inspire contestants to “become the ultimate beauty you have always wanted to be”.


It is her belief that “every girl is beautiful in their own way and should never feel the pressure to change who they are to fit into the world of modelling”.


As a result, the pageant director has banished all height and weight restrictions, firmly believing that “true beauty is inner beauty”.
The pageant’s chosen beneficiary is the Make A Wish Foundation -- a worthy cause in Sarah-Jayne’s eyes.


As a result, she has set about organising a number of fundraising initiatives to prove her worth as an ‘Ultimate Beauty’.
“I have organised a cake sale in school next month and bag packing in Asda,” Sarah-Jayne explains.


No stranger to fundraising in the past, she will also be pulling pints in the Bush and the Devenish over the coming weeks in order to raise money too.
Involved in the pageant since the end of last year, Sarah-Jayne says the Ultimate Beauty contest is “very family orientated”.


“It’s not just about how you look -- it’s your personality, your charity work, how you mix with others. It is great for team building,” she says.
The final of the Ultimate Beauty contest will take place in the Culloden Estate and Spa on March 27.


Prizes include a holiday to Disneyland Paris, a professional photoshoot with hair and make-up on the day and the all important ‘Ultimate Beauty’ encrusted crown.