A KIDWELLY teenager hopes winning Miss Universe Wales will fuel her ambition of creating a charity to "change people's futures through her own bad memories".

Sophie Walters is appealing for public votes after making it to the beauty pageant's grand finale at Mercure Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, on February 17, having raised £640 in aid of the competition's chosen charities.

The 19-year-old's inspiration has been the treasured memory of her late father, David Huw Walters, who died last year the day before she turned 18. She now hopes to start up her own charity to help youngsters who experience similar loss.

She said: "I want to help children like me to get out of that spin and do some good.

"When I was a baby my father had a life-changing operation that went horribly wrong.

"It was 12 fractures to his spine — he could still walk, but lost use of all functions from the waist down. He was in constant pain but because I was small I was oblivious to it all.

"As I grew up my dad's condition grew into even more painful hurdles us as a family had to face.

"Through my bad memories, I want to change people's futures."

As part of the Miss Universe Wales contest, Sophie has raised money for Haven breast cancer support charity and Strongbones children's charity by staging the Only Way is Kidwelly Christmas party, selling cakes and doing bucket collections in Swansea and Carmarthen.

She feels entering the competition has given her a renewed lease of life after last year's tragedy. "Until I entered and got the chance to raise money for charity I felt numb, but now I'm helping people live instead of watching them die, I feel amazing," she said.

"If I won it would be so much of an achievement for me and a huge reward for all of the hard work that has gone in."

Sophie hopes her future charity will offer stability, routine, trust, loyalty, guidance and friendship to young people who have lost a loved one and need help.

"They may have chosen to do bad substances or abuse their body using alcohol or drugs," she said.

"They may have found themselves in a group of people who are bad influences. They may just be normal, moved on in life and don't really know what they want to do, or they may just be lonely.

"I want to offer them a place to come and sit with others in their situation where they can say to one another: 'I know how you feel' and change their minds about making life-damaging changes."

You can vote for Sophie by calling 0901 293 7960 from a landline and when prompted for the contestant's two digit number, pressing 30. Votes cost £1.02. Votes from mobiles may vary. To vote via SMS, text MUW30 to 81118. Votes cost £1 plus standard network charge. Lines close on Thursday, February 16, at 11.59pm.