THREE Gwent women are preparing to battle it out in a bid to be crowned Miss Wales.

Naseem Syed, from Duffryn, Newport, Helen Batley, from Usk, and Lidija Vrcic, from Cwmbran, are busy putting the final touches to the outfits and hairstyles they hope will help them win the title.

Naseem, a former fashion student at the University of Wales, Newport, is also designing and creating the outfits she hopes will clinch her the top spot.

The 24-year-old, who teaches fashion design, said: "It's given me the opportunity to do so many things - I've just come back from shooting a music video in London.

"I'm raring to go now, I can't wait until the final."

Helen Batley, 21, is hoping it will be a case of second time lucky in this year's contest.

The administration officer, who also competed for the title last year, said winning the Miss Wales crown would be a dream come true.

She said: "It's something I've dreamed of ever since I was a little girl." Lidija's leap into the limelight will be preceded by a parachute jump in aid of Save the Children on July 3.

The 18-year-old from Llantarnam Road, Cwmbran, said she is not worried about getting injured just a few weeks before the final. The former St Alban's School pupil now works as a sales adviser at Chessman in Newport.

The Miss Wales final will be held at Cardiff's Coal Exchange, Cardiff, on July 22.