AN aspiring beauty queen showed her regal air when she dressed as Her Majesty to add a crowning touch to her charity fundraising.

Fern Tilley, aged 21, of Rainbow Hill, Worcester, was not content merely to be in the running as a beauty queen but decided to dress as the actual Queen for a good cause.

The local beauty blogger and makeup artist is in the final of Miss Black Country and, if she wins, will be competing for Miss England.

The competition will be in Dudley on May 24 but her pageant dress is supplied locally by Worcester's Espada, based in Friar Street.

Part of being a finalist involves raising money for the Miss World charity Beauty with a Purpose.

Causes to have benefited include the funding for Cleft Palate Teams in South America, Sri Lanka and Russia, three fundraising tours to support abandoned and neglected children in Vietnam, long term support for both Operation Hunger and the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Africa, and teaming up with Jackie Chan and the Chinese Red Cross in bringing financial aid to those most seriously affected by the Asian tsunami.

Miss Tilley said: "I own a mobile beauty business Glam Me Up and have decided to use my makeup skills to transform myself into Queen Elizabeth for the day.

"Hopefully this shows I have a good sense of humour and don't mind looking silly in the face of a good cause. I'm just finishing my specialist hair and media makeup degree at University College Birmingham and I live in the Rainbow Hill area of Worcester.

"I'm a beauty queen hopeful turning herself into the actual Queen. If I have to hide my looks to raise money for a good cause then every penny will be worth it.

"I'll be borrowing my little sister's tiara and will spend the entire day as her Majesty.

So if the postman rings the doorbell or when I need a pint of milk, I'll be doing the royal wave to all my subjects.

"I have massive respect for the Queen and think she's doing a good job of running the country considering all the responsibilities she has."

To sponsor Miss Tilley visit her fundraising link uk.virginmoneygiving.com/FernTilleyMBK