Six women have now been picked to go forward to a shortlist of 20 to decide who will be this year’s Miss Oxford.

So far, 40 women have entered the competition, although anyone who fancies their chances still has until Monday to enter.

Entrants are then invited to an audition at the Fresh Academy fashion studios, in Watford, to decide if they will make the shortlist.

Once that is finalised, the successful applicants’ photograph and profile will be posted on the Internet and the public will then vote for their favourite.

All Miss Oxford applicants must be single, aged between 17 and 24, and from oxfordshire.

To enter this year’s Miss Oxford competition online, visit missengland.info/regionals/ oxford) The six selected so far are Kelly Wright, 23, from Headington, Oxford, Abigail Palmer, 18, from Witney, Jessica Chai, 17, from Chipping Norton, Kat Barwell, 21, from Bicester, Louise Abband, 22, from Witney, and Natasha Medlin, 22, from Banbury.

Miss Wright, who is a nurse at the John Radcliffe Hospital, said she was over the moon to have made the shortlist.

She said: “I entered for a bit of fun really. I was surfing the Internet with my sister and stumbled across the website. I didn’t think I would get through to the final, but I’m really excited.

“I was given a makeover and had my photo taken by a professional photographer — it was a lot of fun.

“Hopefully I’ll win — you never know!

“All my family and friends are behind me, but there’s a lot of competition. I have my fingers crossed.”

The winner of Miss Oxford 2009 will go forward to represent Oxfordshire in the Miss England final, held at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel on July 19 and 20, which will feature a special fashion show.

Miss England organiser Angie Beasley said: “We are not just a beauty or model contest, the girls have to be talented.

“We are particularly looking for someone who stands out from the crowd, someone who has lots of personality and confidence, as well as beauty.”

Miss Oxford winners have a good record in the Miss England competition — Daniella Luan, from Sandhills, Oxford, and Eleanor Glynn, from Sandford-on-Thames, were crowned Miss England in 2002 and 2006 respectively.

Ms Luan said the experience had been incredible.

On the Miss England website she wrote: “After winning the title, I was featured in Hello, Now and OK! as well as many other leading newspapers and magazines.

“I really enjoy modelling and I am excited about where it may lead. I would love to pursue a career in TV.”

Lyndsay Fayle, 17, from Denchworth, near Wantage, is the current Miss Oxford.