Layla Griffiths is an Upminster girl with global ambitions – she’s set her sights on the title of Miss Earth.

The 20-year-old model, of Marlborough Close, has been chosen as the regional winner and hopes to go all the way to the grand final in Vietnam.

Layla, an ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust who hopes to study History and Archaeology at university, said: “I’m good at public speaking – I think with that I can get people interested. I’m very good at encouraging people and I’m clever, which is key – you have to be smart to win stuff like this.

“It’s about being a strong person. You can influence people and look nice at the same time.”

Layla and will represent Upminster in the national finals in September.