A Romford man could be the next Mr Hot Hot Hot UK after reaching the grand final of the national pageant.

Peter Alamu Carter, 26, has recently moved back to Romford after years living between Essex, Los Angeles and New York as a professional model.

He came back because of his four-year-old daughter, Katy. Her mother has recently gone back to university.

Peter said: “It was a tough decision but I didn’t want to focus on my dream and neglect them.

“I heard about the Mr Hot Hot Hot UK pageant and I thought it didn’t hurt to go for it. I’m not going there to win, I’m more there to be part of it but I think I’ve got a good chance.”

Peter started modelling at 13 while he was at St Edward’s School but didn’t consider it as a career until after finishing his digital media degree.

He said: “I was going for jobs after uni and after five interviews I got fed up because I’m a very proud person. So I started modelling full-time to see what happened. I moved to LA last January and it all kicked off.”

Peter has featured in adverts for Dolce and Gabbana and Diesel, done catwalk shows and appeared in UK magazines including More and Zoo.

Contestants can raise money for Cancer Research UK as part of the competition. Peter is planning a charity car wash in Romford with 10 female and 10 male models in swimwear.

He said: “I know what Essex guys are like when it comes to half naked women, especially washing their cars so I think it could raise a lot of money.”

The pageant final will be held at the Newport Hilton Hotel on June 24.