THE song Here Come The Girls blared out over the sound system as 20 hopefuls stepped out in their clubwear in their bid to make the Miss England finals.

They were competing for the titles of Miss Swindon and Miss Wiltshire at Liquid, in Havelock Square, on Sunday and, for the first time, the competition was a full-blown choreographed show.

The girls had a busy day, arriving in the morning to be put through their paces by Miss England choregrapher Lisa Powell.

By the evening, and after hair and make-up had been attended to, they had been transformed into glamorous beauty pageant contestants.

“They looked amazing, I hardly recognised them from the girls who arrived in the morning,” said organiser Rhona Shadik.

The finalists, who had been chosen by a panel of judges and online voting, appeared first in their clubbing gear and then in evening dresses.

Judges – including former Miss England Laura Coleman, DJ Mark Eteson, Julian Clarke, of Goldworthy’s hair salon, and the retiring Miss Wiltshire Elishma Fernandes – whittled the contestants down to a final 10, who then came out individually to answer a question each.

The eventual winners were Megan Bowyer, who took the Miss Wiltshire title which entitles her to automatic entry to the Miss England finals, and Emma-Jayne Slater, who, as Miss Swindon, goes to the semi-finals.

The runners-up were Hannah Golding (Miss Wiltshire), 20, a play carer from Liden, and Rachel Dunne (Miss Swindon), 20, a retail supervisor.

Two other titles were also awarded: Hannah Golding won the Miss Popularity on-line vote which qualifies her to go on to a national internet vote with a prize of a place in the Miss England semi-final. Rebecca Mitchell, 18, of North Swindon, was crowned Miss Charity for raising money for the Miss England-backed Variety Club’s Children’s Charity.

“Rebecca raised the most but between them the girls raised about £3,000. It’s really good,” said Rhona. “Some heats only raise about £200.”