Your chance to be Miss Blackpool

Girls who want to take part in this year’s competition have until July 1 to send their entries in.

The glittering and glamorous grand final will take place on Friday, August 19, at Viva Blackpool, on Church Street.

Women aged between 17 and 30 can enter the beauty pageant, which will include a catwalk show, which sees resort beauties strutting their stuff in evening wear, beach wear and fashion wear.

Contestants don’t have to be single to take part, they can be married, they can have children, and there is no entry fee.

The winner receives a goodie bag and cash prize, as well as, of course, the title of Miss Blackpool 2016.

Miss Blackpool, organised by resort-based Angels Elite Modelling Agency, is the longest-running seaside beauty contest in the UK.

Karen Jean Cookson, from Angels Elite – and a former Miss Blackpool herself – said: “We are looking for 20 girls to be in the grand final.

“Miss Blackpool is a great chance for girls to take part in a catwalk show, build confidence and make friends.

“It gives girls the chance to be on-stage or model in a fashion show.

“So many of the girls have achieved so much through entering the competition.

“We are always looking for new faces for future modelling events, it’s a great way for Angels Elite to meet new faces.”

Karen first entered the Miss Blackpool competition at 17, won it at 25 and along the way has also held the titles of Miss Wyre, Miss Southport, Miss North West and was the last Miss Holiday Princess at Butlins.

She first helped choreograph the event in 1996 and she and business partner Sue took over the organisation of the competition completely in 2001.

She said: “I love seeing girls when they start off and how they develop.

“You see their confidence build and it makes you feel good that you’ve helped them get on the ladder.”

The current title holder is Jessica Bradder, from Bispham.

She was crowned Miss Blackpool on her fifth attempt.

Since her win she has be involved in many public appearances – including the Blackpool Christmas Lights Switch-on, fashion show modelling and charity events.

Miss Blackpool has changed over the years, as times have also changed.

There are no longer heats for the event – all girls need to do to enter the contest is to email photos and brief details about themselves to Angels Elite, before the closing date of July 1.

The night of the grand final itself will open with a full-on dance routine before the catwalk show.

There is no longer a traditional black tie dinner at the competition.

Supporters can attend the final at Viva in August for just £15.

* To enter or find out more, email [email protected] or visit www.missblackpool.com