Ceri Chave, of Monmouth, has been chosen as Miss Monmouthshire 2009.

Ceri, 21, who is a law student at Durham, scooped first place in the competition. It was an extra special weekend for Ceri as she was also celebrating her 21st birthday.

Although birthday celebrations were put on hold on the evening of the final, Ceri's college friends had planned a Miss World themed party for her return to university on Sunday night.

Ceri had planned to go to the party as Miss Wales with a fake tiara and sash but having won the Miss Monmouthshire title she decided to go with her genuine Miss Monmouthshire tiara and sash and celebrate as a true winner.

Ceri, from Monmouth, along with the two runners up, Georgina Brown, 18, from Caldicot and Laura Edwards 23 from Monmouth, who are also both students will go on to represent Monmouthshire in the grand final of Miss Wales 2009 this July.

The event was organised by Vibe Models and is sponsored by Dress- Stop. com, Wales' largest supplier of prom and evening wear. It is supported by the Monmouthshire Beacon.

The contestants took part in three catwalk rounds including a little black dress round, a casual round and an evening wear round in front of a panel of judges.

On the judging panel were, Carole Williams, manager of Dress-Stop.com, Suzanne Allen manager of The Metropol, Alison Stallard of The Joshua Foundation and Clare Birt, director at Vibe Models.

Carole Williams, said, "As a judge it was a difficult job, all of the finalists were beautiful and every one of them had done a fantastic job at helping raise money for the Joshua Foundation. Well done to all of them and good luck to the winners going onto Miss Wales in July."

Clare Birt, Marketing Director of Vibe Models, said: "We are thrilled with our winner and delighted to have raised so much for charity at the same time.

"It's been a very exciting year and we wish Ceri, Georgina and Laura the best of luck at the Miss Wales competition July this year."