Miss Shropshire to be crowned this weekend

And Renee Farquharson said winning the title 12 months ago had been one of the best experiences of her life, leading to the Miss England finals.

"Some people believe that beauty pageants are out dated and sexist, but I think they are timeless," said the 18-year-old, of Wellington.

"All the girls are there by choice, some of them might have been scouted but we aren't forced to take part, we chose to.

"We also spend a lot of time raising money for charity."

Renee is currently applying to study either social policy or sociology at university, but hopes to compete in beauty pageants once she has finished her degree.

"When they called my name saying I had won, it was crazy. I went blank on stage, because there's a period in the middle of the final that I cannot remember.

"I had convinced myself that I wasn't going to win, and that one of the other girls would. I literally could not believe it at all.

"I had an amazing time when I was competing in Miss England. It was like one big sleepover as we were all staying in a hotel," she said.

"More than 100 girls entered this year's Miss Shropshire competition, and 32 have been chosen for tomorrow's finals at The Buttermarket in Shrewsbury.

The winner will automatically win a place in the Miss England competition, and if she succeeds there will compete in Miss World.

The final will begin at 8pm. For further details visit www.missengland.info/regionals/shropshire