A TOP beauty model has stopped off in the region in a bid to find glamourous young ladies to take part in a competition.
Miss England, Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge, paid a visit to Chester Zoo as she joined the organisers in calling for women to sign up for the coveted Miss England Cheshire title, which is accepting entrants until next Friday, March 12.
Katrina, who is also a soldier who has been decorated for bravery in Iraq, scooped the crown last year and has represented England in Miss World in Johannesburg.
Organisers of the competition are looking for an ambassador for the Cheshire West and Chester area who will be well-presented, confident and able to communicate, among other qualities.
Katrina said: “We came here to Chester Zoo today to advertise for Miss England Cheshire heat, for any young ladies aged 17 to 24 to apply. Any girl at all can enter who has an interest to take part.
“It’s a fantastic competition to hopefully become Miss England because you then get to go on to become Miss World.
My time as Miss England has been amazing. I got to go to South Africa for five weeks and meet lots of girls around the world, as well as engage in modelling.
“I have been to lots of events and parties. It can really open doors for the TV and magazine world.”
She added she had joined because she had originally wanted to promote the forces in the contest.
“The message I have tried to get across is that if you want something in life, go and get it.
Never leave it, just go for it. I’ll be really sad when I have to give up my crown but when one adventure ends, another begins.”
The winner of Miss England Cheshire 2010 will, amongst other prizes, win a place in the Miss England final where she will have a chance to go onto Miss World 2010, in Vietnam, where the main prize is $100,000.
The final for Miss England Cheshire is being held at the Daneside Theatre on Saturday, June 5.
The winner will be actively encouraged to use their title to promote the area and raise the profile of many worthy causes throughout their year.
This year the Miss England Cheshire organisers aim to raise money for the Variety Club Children’s Charity through contestant fundraising and activities.
To enter the contest go to www.missenglandcheshire.co.uk. Entrants must be aged between 17 and 24, and must never have been married or have children.