A RADCLIFFE teenager is heading to the finals of this year’s Miss Teen Great Britain, hoping to inspire other young women from small towns to follow their dreams.

Tofumni Akingbala, aged 17, originally from Ibadan in Nigeria, will be representing Miss Teen Radcliffe in the grand final at the Globe Theatre in Blackpool on October 25.

The Bury College student wanted to give special thanks to her neighbours in Arley Road, Radcliffe, who have sponsored her participation in the competition.

She said: “I am speechless that I have got this far. I’m so happy because it has kickstarted my modelling career and I can show other young black women that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.

“From the start, I was nervous and scared and needed support from my parents, and while I am still nervous, I am a lot more confident at this point.

When Tofumni was three years old, she moved with her parents to the UK from Nigeria, and grew up watching models on the TV, including Naomi Campbell and Kendall Jenner, aspiring to pursue modelling as a professional career and hopes to sign with brands such Gucci and Burberry.

She said: “From a young age, I looked up to professional models, so if I win, I would be overcome with emotion, because it’s my dream and would be the first step of my career.

“I also want to be something of an inspiration to people from small towns or neighbourhoods that people might not have heard of.

“Throughout my journey, my parents are a big inspiration, they always push me to do my best.”

Tofumini’s mum, Opeoluwa, added: “I cannot express how proud I am that she has got this far. As parents, we always tell her that it is not just about the winning, but it is the taking part that matters.

“Even if she doesn’t win, getting to the finals has been a enormous step and a big dream come forward.”