A FORMER Caldicot carnival queen is through to the finals of an environmentally friendly beauty pageant.

Rachael Beagen, 20, from Caldicot, will compete with 15 women for the title of Miss Earth Wales this weekend.

Miss Beagen, who works as a leisure receptionist at the Marriott St Pierre hotel in Chepstow, has made a message board with enrivonmental messages on to show her commitment to protecting the environment.

She also has to learn the Miss Earth song and sing it on stage with the other contestants and will be interviewed about her hobbies and interests.

The finals take place on Saturday in Leamington Spa and will be judged by celebrities such as Big Brother’s Aisleyne and Keesha from the Sugababes.

If Miss Beagen is crowned Miss Earth Wales she will go through to the internationally televised Miss Earth pageant in October, where 90 countries will be represented.

“I was quite shocked to be picked,” Miss Beagen said. “I’m really looking forward to it but I’m quite nervous.

"I was carnival queen at the Caldicot Carnival twice when I was four and eight so I've had a bit of experience, but this is the biggest beauty competition I've ever been involved with."

To vote for her text “Rachael Beagen” to 84205 before 9pm on Saturday night. Texts cost £1 plus the standard network charge and a 15p donation will be made to the World Wildlife Fund.