The 40 finalists will appear in a lavish pageant to be held at the ICC on May 3. The winner will go on to the Miss Universe final in Las Vegas in the summer.

Jan 22 2009 by Jonny Greatrex, Birmingham Mail

Competitors in last year’s contest raised £35,000 for The Joshua Foundation, a charity which helps terminally ill children to have special trips or days out.

The amount raised last year was enough to take 25 families to Lapland for the day.