TRADERS from Wales and afar showcased their products and skills at a Newport business expo event today.

The Pill Millennium Centre housed more than 30 traders selling a mixture of food, cosmetics and clothing alongside family-friendly activities and a beauty pageant.

The event was organised South Wales Social Circle (SWSC) with an aim of bringing traders, businesses and cultures together.

Event trader, Hannah Bolger, previously worked in the Royal Air Force before setting up several businesses including White Light Candles which sells ethically sourced fragrances.

The trader, who lives in Pontypool, said she “loves the idea of community” and had received positive feedback for her vegan/vegetarian-friendly and cruelty-free products.

Lisa Cathcart, of ‘doTerra Essential Oils’, moved to Newport a year ago and credited the city’s “strong community spirit”.

“These types of events are perfect," she said. "It’s about meeting new people and introducing them to new products that they don’t normally see."

Entertainment on the day included a large bouncy castle, costumed mascots and a ‘selfiepod’ courtesy of ex-serviceman and photographer, Chris Waters.

“It’s a good opportunity for businesses to meet other smaller businesses,” he said.

Performer ‘MagicAsh’ travelled from Swansea for the event and captivated youngsters with live illusions with a goal of “putting Wales on the map with magic”.

The event also contained several glittering gowns in a pageant event organised by Elle Wilks, a 17-year-old who also runs her own pageant, Miss Paragon.

Caerleon teen, Charlotte Redmond, was invited to the event and hopes to scoop the Miss Wales crown next year as a finalist at the Riverfront Centre.

“There is the stereotypical view of pageants, pretty girls in pretty dresses," she said.

"When you get to speak to the girls and get to know them it’s not about that.

“It’s about helping charities and feeling good about yourself and I’m doing this to build my own confidence. It’s going to help me."

Taz Khan, who regularly organises SWSC events in the Newport area, was pleased with the turnout, with traders travelling from Newport, Caerleon, Caerphilly, Swansea and Birmingham.

“We want to take people who have started off in business and give them access. It’s not just about charities and raising funds it’s platforms," he said.

“How many people would think of coming to Pill to watch a beauty pageant, how many people have got access to it?"

He added: “It’s worth it seeing the smiles of the kids and families by bringing things like this but we do need community support.

“We’re a close-knit community and there’s a lot of diversity and ethnicity in this particular area of Pill but we want to unite everyone as human beings.”

For more information, search for 'South Wales Social Circle' on Facebook.