Last year’s Miss Alderney Adele Woodruff, centre, with her maids of honour Sammy Gaudion and Charlie Smith. (0764816)

GORGEOUS girls are needed to take part in this year’s Miss Alderney beauty pageant.

The annual event, which last year celebrated its diamond anniversary, will be held in the Island Hall on Saturday 23 May.

Contestants must be single, aged 17 to 25, live in the island and be available during Alderney Week, which runs from 1 to 9 August.

‘The judges will not just base their decisions on looks,’ said organiser Ilona Soane-Sands.

‘Overall impressions, appearance, personality, manners, confidence and the willingness to be an ambassadress for Alderney and Alderney Week are all very important.

‘Contestants should be prepared to talk about their hobbies, interests, plans for the future and why they’d like to become Miss Alderney.

They will also be asked how they would respond to the duties that come with the much-coveted title.’

In a change to recent contests, this year’s entrants will be interviewed on stage in front of a packed crowd.

Ilona said organisers had changed the format in response to requests from a number of former winners.

‘The contestants are spared any possible stress or embarrassment: no daunting catwalk or swimsuit parade.

‘However, at the request of some former Miss Alderneys, the public, as well as the judges, will get to see and find out a little more about all the lovely young ladies. This will involve the girls being introduced on stage and interviewed by chat show host Ronnie Cairnduff.’

Local band Skratch will entertain the crowd after the interviews before the winner and her maids of honour are announced at around 10.30pm.

Ilona went on to detail what this year’s winners will be expected to do during Alderney Week.

‘The winning trio will be required to attend a considerable number of Alderney Week events to present prizes, starting on Saturday morning with the town crier competition and later that day at the triathlon, Little Miss and Master Alderney contest and that night’s election of Mr Alderney.

‘A day later they will attend the official Alderney Week church service before crowning the Little Holiday Prince and Princess.

‘On Cavalcade Day, after the floats have arrived on the Butes, they will act as hosts to visiting carnival queens from Guernsey, Jersey and Beaumont-Hague. And on the last night, they will lead the torchlight procession.’

This year’s winners will also be kept busy before and after Alderney Week.

Ilona said: ‘The following week, Miss Alderney will represent her island at the Jersey Battle of Flowers and the fantastic Moonshine Parade. But before that, on 19 July, Miss Alderney and her maids of honour will hop over to Beaumont-Hague to take part in their carnival parade.’

• Those interested in entering should present themselves in the Anne French Room at the Island Hall between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. Call Ilona on 824321 or visit www.alderneyweek.net for further information.