THE four young women due to represent the Vale of Glamorgan at Miss Wales 2016 have been selected.

The hopefuls include a student from Barry, a nightclub employee from St Athan and a retail assistant from Wenvoe. The girls, who are all hoping to emulate the success of Barry's Helen Morgan - the last Welsh Miss World winner in 1974 - will first compete for the title of Miss Vale of Glamorgan, with the winner going on to compete at the Miss Wales competition in April.

The Miss Vale of Glamorgan competitors are Paige Gershenson, 20, from Barry, Taylor Barrington, 20, from St Athan, Tonicha Harlowe, 17, from Wenvoe and Lauren England, a 20-year-old hair stylist and singer from Cowbridge.

In the run up to the three day Miss Wales final, which involves an "empowerment day" with the UK’s leading youth life-coach; a charity ball and a catwalk show, the finalists will be tasked with fundraising for the Miss World charity Beauty With A Purpose which helps disadvantaged children worldwide.

Miss Wales Organiser Paula Abbandonato, from Cardiff events and PR company Vibe, said: “Every year we have an amazing line up of young women come together at Miss Wales.

"The girls who make up Team Vale of Glamorgan for 2015 are all bright, ambitious and energetic young people. I hope they have the best of times with us and enjoy the Miss Wales experience which is committed to empowering young women, raising money for good causes and giving girls the opportunity to make friends and have fun all through the glamour of pageantry.”

Every year the winner of Miss Wales takes home a host of prizes and represents Wales at the prestigious Miss World final. In recent years, the Miss Wales competition has raised more than £500,000 for charity.

The current Miss Wales is 22-year-old Emma Jenkins, a TV researcher and presenter from Llanelli. She will be flying to China in November to spend four weeks at the Miss World 2015 competition. The reigning Miss World is Rolene Strauss from South Africa.