Sponsors to donate diamond pendant to winner of Miss York contest

And unlike the crown, which must be passed on at the end of her year as Miss York, the winner will be able to keep the pendant as a permanent reminder of her experiences.

The pendant has been given by contest sponsors Cavendish Jewellers of Stonegate, one of a number of local businesses supporting the competition.

Cavendish owners Mark and Debbie Smith said they were pleased to be associated with the event and by association the great work the winner did representing the city, promoting charities and working in the community. “What better way to decorate a beautiful ambassador for York than with this exquisite and unique keepsake?” they said.

Contest organiser Naomi Smith said it was an “amazing gift”, coming on top of generous financial support Cavendish had already given.

Meanwhile, a panel of experts has chosen the young women to appear in this year’s final, which will be held at the Royal York Hotel on May 22. Entrants were quizzed about their hobbies, aspirations and talents in the semi-final contest last weekend.

The panel included a representative from Fashion City York, Nick Eggleton, former Miss York contestant and Miss Scarborough 2010 organiser Melissa Chapman; the owner of Kathryn Rolfe Lingerie, Kate Rolfe; and Andrew Whitney, the boss of Fly Me Now.

Melissa said the standard of girls entering the contest this year was very high, and York should be proud to have such beautiful girls.

“I think we have a good chance of finding a representative from York to bring home the Miss England crown,” she said.

Mr Whitney said girls who entered such contests were sometimes labelled as either vain or airheads, but this wasn’t the case. He said: “Most of the young women we have seen are at university or college or are very successful in other ways, such as sports.”

•Tickets for the final are on sale now and can be purchased by emailing info@missyork.co.uk