A Falkirk schoolgirl has been crowned winner of a controversial pre-teen beauty pageant.
Braes High School pupil Elise Buchanan performed Beyonce’s hit Single Ladies on stage at a Glasgow hotel to win the Miss Little Scotland title.
The 12-year-old, who lives in Reddingmuirhead with her parents and younger brother, took home a pink and silver diamant crown and secured a modelling contract.
She will also go on an all-expenses-paid trip to Euro Disney in Paris, where she will take part in the Face of the World contest.
The official Miss Little Scotland website described the event as a search for girls “beautiful inwardly and outwardly”.
As well as impersonating their favourite pop stars, participants performed street dance and sang for the crowd, some wearing gowns costing hundreds of pounds.
Proud parents Lorraine Buchanan, 30, and joiner dad Richard, 35, burst into tears when Elise’s name was called out.
Lorraine said: “She took it in her stride. It was her idea to enter and we all supported her.”
Elise, who now hopes to pursue a career in modelling, said: “It’s amazing. I am so shocked. I still can’t believe I have the crown. I’m so, so happy. Thank you to everyone who helped and supported me.”
Charity Kidscape, which aims to prevent bullying and child sexual abuse, has raised concerns over such pageants and has called for the industry to be regulated.
The event was also criticised by Emma Moore, cofounder of Pinkstinks, a campaign against gender stereotyping of toys and clothes for young children.
She said: “Pageants like this give the wrong message to girls and boys about what it is to be a girl.
“The main driver for holding these beauty pageants is making a profit. They are selling a ridiculous notion of beauty to little girls.”
However, Lorraine dismissed their concerns, saying: “I don’t think there is anything wrong with child beauty pageants like this. It’s a bit of fun.”
Miss Little Scotland organiser Angel Dairo, 25, a former Miss Black UK who runs ModelScotland also defended the event.
She said: “We do not want to make children look like grown-up women and the girls are also being judged on their confidence on stage and skills and lovely dresses. We still allow kids to be kids and have girls of all different shapes and sizes.
“We don’t want living dolls.”