If David Blaine is causing so much discussion, what for the Miss England competition? The event will be held next Thursday, 9 October, at the Po Na Na. It is true that group Po Na Na has just been sold because of its financial difficulties, but the club in Hammersmith is a prestigious venue. The official hotel for the Miss England competition is K West, in Shepherd's Bush, known for its cool contemporary design and media type customers.

It has been a while since organisers are trying to transform the beauty pageant from trashy and clich'e into a more glamorous event. The status of the Po Na Na and the style of the K West might help, but can it be changed what critics call a sexist and outdated event?

The contest will also be raising money for the Variety Club of Great Britain, a children's charity funding sick, disabled and disadvantaged children.

Forty-four finalist from around the country will be taking part of the event in search of a girl to represent England in this year's Miss World in Sanya, China. They are lecturers, models, care workers, nannies, medical and law students and poets. A varied background as the way the present themselves: