A RHYL pageant queen’s “dream has come true” on the international stage.

Ava Tudball, a nine-year-old pupil of Ysgol Llywelyn joined 200 other girls from around the world for the Royal International Miss pageant In Orland, Florida – where she beat 32 girls in the ‘sweetheart’ category to come second as the first runner up.

Her second time representing the UK, Ava – then eight - travelled to the US with seven other girls from the UK for competition, following her win at the Royal Miss United Kingdom Sweetheart last year.

However, her trip to the US was almost put in jeopardy after the previous competition organisers DQ Events folded earlier this year.

Mum Lisa Tudball said: “We had quite a nightmare getting there as the organisation who she originally won the prize with back in August last year suddenly ceased trading in April this year without having paid a penny of her fees as promised.

“At this point we had to make the choice to either fund it ourselves or not go. I couldn't bring myself to tell my eight-year-old that she was now not going, so we set about fundraising as much as we possibly could in order to try to cover as much of Ava's travel and accommodation as possible.”

Once at the competition, Ava competed in four categories, including an introduction, an interview with each of the five judges, a fashion section and an evening wear round as well as an an opening number with a short dance sequence.

Ava, a keen dancer also entered an optional Talent Round, earning top honours in the category and being crowned the Royal International Talent, earning a trophy, a crown and sash and $250.

Lisa added: “We had both said that if she placed in the top 15 we would have been more than made up so to exceed those expectations and finish in to top two was a dream come true.”

As part of her journey to the competition, Ava has raised thousands of pounds for charities such as Cancer Research Wales, Rainbow Child Fund, the Pegasus Childs Project in Nepal and Solving Kids Cancer, as well as most recently on Monday this week raising £1300 for the Headway East Kent charity.

She has also participated in hours of service to the community including donating to Rhyl food banks, helping out with the poppy appeal and the Marie Curie great daffodil appeal.

Lisa said: “Ava has worked tirelessly towards this title, not everyone understands what pageants are about. They see programmes like Toddlers and Tiaras and think that the end and be all but in fact Natural beauty pageants are nothing like that at all.

“They don't see the endless amount of work and effort these girls put in behind the scenes and how much they do for numerous charities.

“I am immensely proud of everything Ava has achieved, and she has come home the same grounded little girl that she went, she has never changed and that's what makes her so special.”

Ava will continue to hold the UK title until February next year and hopes to continue on her pageant journey and getting involved in the community and fundraising.