TWO Hampshire sisters are celebrating after being winning places in the semi-finals of two prestigious beauty contests.

Mari-Jade, 17, and Marley Cooper,14 from Stanmore in Winchester have been chosen from thousands of teenagers in the Miss Teen Great Britain and Miss Junior Teen Great Britain.

Their mother Tina Cooper saw details of the prestigious pageant on the Facebook page of Tulip Model Agency, which they are both signed up to, and thought it may be worth a try.

Marley who attends Henry Beaufort School was the first to find out she was through, and four days later Mari-Jade who studies at Peter Symonds College was stunned to find out she was also chosen.

Ms Cooper said: “I did not think they would get this far. I thought send the photos off and see what they say.

“I am really proud of them getting through. If they get through to the final it will be amazing for them. It is something huge to get through to a final to some like this because it is like a mini version of Miss World.”

The pair will also be raising funds for charity as part of getting through to the semi-final, there chosen charity is Together for Short Lives which helps children diagnosed with long-term or terminal illness.

The grand final takes place at The Globe in Blackpool, with the Miss Junior Teen Great Britain final on October 23 and Miss Teen Great Britain on October 24.

To vote for Mari-Jade and Marley visit http://www.missteengreatbritain.co.uk