THERE used to be a time when little girls dreamed of being Miss World and men unashamedly tuned in their TVs to drool over the lovelies in their swimsuits.

While it fell out of favour in the 1980s in the UK and can no longer be seen on terrestrial television, it's never gone away.

Worldwide, it's always been massively popular and claims to be the second biggest television show in the world, behind the Olympic Games, with more than two billion viewers across 150 countries.

"It's huge in the Far East and it's regaining popularity in this country too,'' said Rhona Shafik, one of the organisers, who is setting up the Miss Wiltshire heat, which could lead to the Miss England title and the chance to go to the Miss World finals.

"We have already had dozens of entries for Miss Wiltshire but there's still time to take part.

"We are looking for contestants who are not only photogenic and attractive in face and figure but also have good communication skills, confidence and charm.

"Winning the title of Miss Wiltshire will bring a host of new opportunities to the winner including representing their area at the Miss England semi-final in June 2008.'' More than 100 heats are being held all over the country.

The Wiltshire event will be held on Sunday January 27 at The Old Bank in Old Town.

From online and postal entries, up to 40 girls will be invited to audition interviews.

Twenty will be chosen and ranked from one to 20. Their photographs will be posted on the Miss England website for a public vote when they will again be ranked. In the third and deciding part of competition, a panel of Miss England officials will decide the winner of the title who will go through to the semi-finals to be held over two days at Champneys health spa in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, in June.

Becky
BECKY Mitchell, 17, Swindon College public services student, Penhill Becky has high hopes that her personality will get her through to the next round of the contest.

She entered an online heat for the Miss Photographic section of Miss England, but was disappointed at the result, which she says was based on text votes.

But her visit to a London photographic studio, including a glamourous makeover, gave her a taste of the life she longs to lead.

"This is not going to be like Miss Photographic. I have got to be interviewed, as well as being judged on how I look. I'm quite good at talking, but I am nervous about it.

"Miss England should be somebody who can put their voice out for Wiltshire and England. I want people to know who I am, so that Miss Wiltshire is not someone random if I win."

Caroline
CAROLINE Loveday, 22, Nationwide customer sales adviser, Swindon Caroline is currently the face of Old Town clothes store Nine, having won the Adver's top model competition back in June.

Her prize becoming the store's model for a year, as well as a professional photo shoot worth £500 with Smile Photography and screen tests with AVP Studios.

She has already had one shot at the Miss England 2008 contest, entering one of the online heats, which is how she secured a place at the auditions for Miss Wiltshire.

At the time of winning the Face Of Nine competition, she said: "To think people have picked up a phone and voted for me is very humbling and I really appreciate what everyone has done.

"I don't have a lot of confidence and my friends and family really pushed me towards going for this competition.

"Modelling is something I have always wanted to do so I hope this will develop into a career for me in the next few years."

Naomi
NAOMI Henry, 18, New College A level student, Swindon Naomi Henry says she can bring something different to the Miss Wiltshire 2008 competition.

The A-level student has previously represented her home town and country at the Global Young Leaders Conference in America, and at the age of 16 she was in the final selection stage for a place on the under 19 England netball training squad, narrowly missing out on a place. She had to forgo trials last year due to injury.

She is studying French A level with a view to becoming a linguist so that she can work with and understand different people and cultures around the world. "I don't want to be a stereotype," she said.

"I watch Miss World each year on TV and I like seeing the different people. I was looking on the website to see who this year's Miss England was and it had information about auditions, so I thought why not?' "I do stand out quite a lot - I'm 6ft 1in, so I don't tend to go unnoticed!

"Maybe I'll bring something different to the competition as I'm a more everyday person. So many girls my age want everything to come to them. I'm more driven to achieve things."