Teenage Bermudian model Ziye Burgess is on a mission to raise money for a charity to help children whose lives may be cut short by illness.

Ziye, 14, has been selected to compete in the Miss Teen Great Britain event in October — and entrants are encouraged to raise cash for Together for Short Lives as part of the process.

She said: “It’s a charity for kids that are expected to have shorter lives because of their illnesses and it raises money so that they can live life to the fullest while they’re still here.

“My goal is to raise as much money for them as I can.”

Ziye earned a finalist spot in the junior category of Miss Teen Great Britain after she came second in Miss Teen Model UK earlier this month.

Miss Teen Model was her first competition and she was one of 3,000 applicants.

Ziye said: “After they announced fourth place, I didn’t expect to place at all. When they called my name for second I was so surprised.”

Ziye, who has lived in Britain for two years, said the teen model event was “a really good experience”.

She added: “It was nerve-racking, but also really fun because I met a lot of friends.”

Ziye was named Miss Junior Teen Leicester for her performance in Miss Teen Model UK and will enter Miss Teen Great Britain as a finalist.

She said: “This is a much bigger competition than the last one.

“It’s harder to get into — we had to do a whole application”.

Ziye admitted: “I’m a little bit nervous — but it’s mostly excitement.”

Miss Teen Great Britain was designed to focus on all aspects of the entrants, rather than just physical appearance.

The interview section counts for 50 per cent of each competitor’s total score and participants are asked to raise money for Together for Short Lives.

Ziye has never modelled in Bermuda but “for sure” would like to return and take part in the annual fashion week in the future.

However, she said: “There are definitely more opportunities for me in England than in Bermuda.”

Ziye added: “I plan to complete my education and then hopefully take on modelling as a career.”

Donations can be made to Ziye’s Together for Short Lives fundraiser at justgiving.com/fundraising/Ziye-Burgess?utm