Pageant girl’s mum faces backlash after a VAPING company sponsor the 7-year-old £100 to promote their shop
THE mum of a seven-year-old pageant queen who wears make up, fake tan and skimpy outfits has faced a backlash after the youngster was sponsored by a vaping company.
Single mum Jenna Eastland, 31, from Country Durham, spends thousands of pounds on spray tans, hair extensions and cosmetics for her daughter Layla Thompson, seven, who goes by the stage name Layla Belle.
Layla, who hopes to become famous, is now being sponsored by Vapour Love, an e-cigarettes business, in return for wearing branded company clothing.
But mum Jenna now says that she has faced criticism from people who believe that Layla should not be promoting the products – despite Vapour Love sponsoring the youngster to compete in Miss British Empire UK.
Jenna, who is also mum to Noah, 10, and Brody, nine, said: "When they offered to sponsor her I didn't even think about it. I didn't think maybe I shouldn't.
"On social media people have been saying it is not a good idea to get a kid advertising for smoking, but it is not smoking.
"Lots of the stuff they sell doesn’t even have nicotine in it.
"I don't know why people are spitting their dummy out.
"I would never let her have a go of it."
Layla, who has loved glamming up since she was only one, regularly competes in beauty pageants and dance competitions.
Vapour Love, who are based in Shildon, County Durham, offered to pay the £100 fee for Layla to represent Durham in Miss British Empire UK in Buckinghamshire this week.
In return, Layla has agreed to wear Vapour Love clothing, including a hoodie and cap, in order to increase the company's publicity.
Jenna, who is a full-time carer for Noah and Brody who have autism, said: "She loves the Vapour Love hoodie; she wears it all the time. I don't mind her wearing it.
"People say she is being sponsored by a company whose products she can't even use but some children are sponsored by estate agents, and they can't buy a house.
"I see children walking around wearing t-shirts with Monster energy drink on but they can't drink that.
"Vapour Love are a local company and it is good publicity for them to sponsor Layla.
"I think there is nothing wrong with it, people just like to nit-pick."
Vapour Love is run by Michael Feeney, 34, and Daryl McGarrigle, 22.
Owner Michael said: "The way I look at it, it is the business which is sponsoring Layla not the brand.
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"We are not trying to get her to promote e-cigarettes and stuff like that.
"They are a totally different category to cigarettes in my view anyway; it is a ‘stop smoking’ product.
"We have known Layla for a long time. We completely stand by her and support her."
Previously, Jenna has hit back at claims Layla is being sexualised by saying "there's something sadly wrong" with those who would think that about a child.
Layla applies makeup and styles her hair every day before leaving the house and she even has her own Instagram, Twitter and Star Now Account - for up and coming models, actors and dancers.
Jenna said: "She just wants to be famous and has the mind set of an adult.
"She's not a normal seven-year-old. She would be a great reality TV star."
Layla has also been offered the chance to represent the UK in Junior Model International and Miss Superglobe held in India next month.
Her family are raising money for her to compete in the competition. To Donate visit .
Recently, another beauty pageant mum was blasted for smothering her three-year-old in fake tan and a mum spent £25,000 turning her kids into beauty pageant stars.
