Hit or Miss (York)

Two York University students have been short-listed in the popular Miss York 2010 pageant, Vision can reveal.

Rachel Wareing, 20, and Laura Nero, 18, will both be taking part in the final on the 30th May at the Royal York Hotel.

Speaking exclusively to Vision, Rachel urged fellow students to vote, encouraging students to “remove the stigma that York is an ‘ugly’ University and have a beauty queen as one of the students!”

The winner of the regional heat will then go on to compete with the best from around the country for the coveted Miss England title. If successful here, the victor will then take part in the famous Miss World contest, competing with other national pageant queens from around the globe.

Rachel, who is originally from Preston, also commented that: “If a Lancashire girl could take the Yorkshire crown it could truly put an end to the War of the Roses!”

Laura, a first year politics student at the university, first got involved with the Miss London pageant in 2009. She said: “I really enjoyed getting involved last year and I’d like to promote the idea that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.”

“Last year I managed to raise the most money for charity in the Miss London semi-final and I’d like to carry on promoting beauty with a purpose.”

The winner of Miss York 2010 will receive a TV training course, an evening dress worth £200, a photo shoot and portfolio worth £500 and a day at Champneys.

Last year’s winner, Helen Lawal, was a student at the Hull-York Medical School.

To support the girls, text 16Rachel for Rachel or 12Laura for Laura, to 84205. Voting is open now, and will close at 6pm on the 30th of May.