A mother is determined to prove beauty is more than skin deep by entering her five-year-old daughter in a make-up free beauty pageant.

Summer Kershaw, of Organ Hall Road, Borehamwood, is preparing to strut her stuff on the catwalk at this year’s Face of the Globe competition.

But her mother Zoe Sherlock wants her daughter to grow up respecting herself and others and not to judge people solely on their looks.

She said: “I refuse to let Summer wear revealing clothes or slap on tonnes of make up. She is only a child and that could actually ruin her confidence by making her think she’s not good enough.

“I want to show people that there is more to the world of beauty pageants than what you see on television and in America. This one's nothing like that.

“Summer is a confident child anyway but this has really helped her come out of her shell. If she didn’t want to do it I’d pull her out - but she’s so excited about taking part.”

The London heats will be held at Elstree Studios in August, and participants under the age of 12 are banned from wearing make up.

Summer, who goes to Meryfield School in Borehamwood, has been modelling since she was a baby but hopes this could help kick start her career.

She was selected to take part after completing an application form on which she was asked to send a photo of herself and detail her biggest achievement.

Now she is now pouring her efforts into raising money for the pageant’s nominated charity, the Rainbow Child Foundation.

If she wins, she will be entered into the grand finals in Disneyland Paris for the chance to be crowned the worldwide winner.

For Summer, who loves Disney Princesses, the trip would be a dream come true.

She said: “I am going to wear a really pretty dress when I go on the catwalk and give my biggest smile. I am going to try my hardest to win because I really want to go to Disneyland.

“Being a model is really fun, I hope I get to do it forever.”