The mother of an eight-year-old American child beauty star is hiring out her daughter as a private "pageant coach" ahead of a contentious child beauty contest in Ireland next month.

Starlet Eden Wood has been billed as the star attraction of a controversial US-themed pageant, which is taking place at a secret venue in Dublin on September 21.

The Arkansas youngster, who's a household name in the US with over 300 titles to her name since the age of one, actually retired from pageant competitions two years ago.

But a hectic schedule planned for her first Ireland tour in the coming weeks will see her perform a singing and dancing routine, be on hand for meet and greets and photos with young contestants and their parents and even work privately as a pageant consultant.

Her mother Mickie Wood said she's already received "many enquiries" from Irish parents looking to hire her daughter's services ahead of the €20,000 glitzy Universal Royalty Beauty pageant.

She said her daughter would be hosting a seminar the day before the event, costing approximately $30 per family to attend.

But she added that the youngster, who starred in US fly-on-the-wall reality programme Toddlers & Tiaras, will also be available to work privately as a private pageant consultant - offering tips on modelling and fashion techniques to budding child stars - for a higher fee.

She said: "We're super-excited about coming over to Ireland. Eden doesn't take part in pageants any longer, as she's focusing now on singing and acting.

"But we're going to be holding a seminar the day before the pageant for parents and their children, which will last up to three hours.

"Many people have been in touch from Ireland and some of the parents want their kids to have private coaching from Eden, but that'll be a bit more expensive.

"She'll be there to pass on advice, like correcting any modelling and wardrobe mistakes."
As America's most famous underage model, Wood almost has superstar status in the US, with hit singles, books and replica dolls released under her name.

More than 100 applications have been received from Irish parents to enter their children - including babies and toddlers - in Universal Royalty's first-ever Irish event next month.

Here’s an Eden Wood promotional video: