The search has begun to find Miss Wales 2009 – and Vibe Models along with the Monmouthshire Beacon - are looking for local girls to enter the Monmouthshire qualifier.

 For the first time in the competition's history a regional round will take place here in Monmouthshire to choose the local girls who will represent the county at the grand final of Miss Wales next summer.

 The winner and first two runners up will be guaranteed a place in the Miss Wales final in Cardiff, The woman who comes first will also be crowned Miss Monmouthshire.

 Paula Abbandonato, event organiser, said: "The Miss Wales experience is more popular than ever before providing a wonderful opportunity for young women to have great fun and improve in confidence. We are eager that more young women from Monmouthshire get the chance to enjoy that experience. We are really looking forward to hearing from them all and meeting our finalists at the regional qualifier in March."

 The Miss Wales competition adheres to the Miss World beauty with a purpose ethos and works very closely with The Joshua Foundation – a charity for children with cancer. In 2009, the aim is to generate £100,000 for the charity through the competition. Young women interested in entering should either live, work or go to school or college in Monmouthshire. They should be between 16-24 years old, should never have been married or had children. They must also be Welsh.

 Applications for the Monmouthshire heat can be filled in at the website http://www.misswales.co.uk">www.misswales.co.uk. Closing date for entries is Sunday 1st February.