Maanya bags a crown at her first ever pageant

Maanya Betha, 11, represented India in the Miss Carnival Queen International Pageant and won first Mini Princess Carnival Queen, and first runner up in the under teen division.

It is the first time the Salterhebble Junior and Infant School pupil has done any sort of pageant.

Sireesha Betha, Maanya’s mum, said: “I said this was the first and the last pageant but as soon as it finished she said she wanted to do it all again.”

Sireesha entered her daughter into the competition after becoming curious about the pageant world.

She said: “She truly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I am very proud of her.”

The final was held in Huddersfield and attracted contestants from across Europe.

It consisted of five rounds, an off-stage interview, an opening number where contestants wore white, a carnival round where contestants dressed in bright clothing, holiday wear, a talent competition and finally an evening wear round.

Pageant organiser Natalie Marie Quinn said: “She is a natural. Maanya should definitely continue. My favourite round was her talent - an amazing Bollywood routine.”

The pageant is a charity event and so far it has raised more than £4,000 for the African Caribbean Cultural Trust, an organisation that organises the Huddersfield Caribbean Carnival and promotes Caribbean culture.