28 young women are preparing for their moment in the spotlight when the Miss York 2011 final is held this weekend.

The finalists have been whittled down from more than 100 entrants who came forward to enter the contest.

Organiser Naomi Smith, herself a former Miss York and a Miss England runner-up, said some “fantastic girls” had signed up for the contest and stressed it would not necessarily be the most beautiful girl who would win.

Judges would be looking as much for a girl who had personality and stood out, as the winner would have to meet and talk to many different people and be a representative of the city.

“Miss York is no longer an outdated stereotypical ‘beauty pageant’, where girls parade around in their swimwear, but more about finding a girl to be a good role model for others,” she said. “It is also about raising awareness of, and money for, charities.”

The final takes place at the Royal York Hotel on Sunday evening, with the winner gaining automatic entry into the Miss England final later this year.

Naomi said people have a chance to vote by text or phone message for their favourite candidate, with the contestant gaining the most votes winning automatic entry on Sunday to the last 15, while across the country, the person with the most votes in such contests would win automatic entry to Miss England.

View the Miss York 2011 contestants >>

Miss York 2011 contest photographs are by outsphotography.co.uk

How to vote for your favourite:

• To vote by text, you must text the number and name as shown exactly below their photograph to 84205.

• To vote from a landline, dial 0901 6561507 and then enter their unique personal two digit code (before their name) when prompted.

Text votes costs 60p plus standard network charge if voting by mobile. Votes from a landline cost 61p from a BT landline.

Public voting will finish on Sunday 22nd May at 8.00pm. Votes made after this will not be counted for but you may still be charged.