THE race is on to find a glamorous girl with enough style and sophistication to be crowned this year's Miss Worcester.

The competition has got bigger and better to give even more girls the chance to become a beauty queen and represent the Faithful City in the prestigious Miss England event, which in turn could give them a shot at being crowned Miss World.

Last year's winner, Jodi Edwards, of Fernhill Heath, Worcester, said being crowned Miss Worcester had changed her life for the better and opened up opportunities she could have only dreamt about before.

She said: "It has been the most fantastic experience of my whole life. I have had an excellent year."

The 19-year-old said she has modelled in charity fashion shows, opened fetes, presented prizes, worked for the National Lottery and even gone on a trip to Taiwan to take part in the Miss Global City contest. During her time there, she also appeared on a television chat show.

She said she had enjoyed representing Worcester at home and abroad, but warned anyone who wanted to follow in her footsteps that they would need to be confident and independent and have lots of stamina.

She said: "You also need elegance. Being a beauty queen, you have to represent the city with elegance, which I feel I have done, and hopefully we will find other girls who will do the same."

Your Worcester News has once again teamed up with Worcester Racecourse to bring the glamorous competition to the city.

Last year, it was only open to budding beauty queens in Worcester but this year anyone aged between 17-24 who lives in a postcode area starting WR, which includes towns such as Droitwich, Malvern and Evesham, can enter.

All of the contestants, who must be unmarried, will have their pictures published in the paper, giving people a chance to vote for their favourite.

The top 10 girls who receive the most votes will then be announced. The finalists will have to take part in a gala event at Worcester Racecourse where they will have to impress a panel of special judges on Thursday, May 22.

Miss Edwards said: "If I was to give any advice to any of the girls it would be be prepared for your life to change but definitely for the better."

The closing date for entries is Friday, March 28.