ZARA FAULKES

ZARA FAULKES, 18, from Abingdon, is a business student at the town's college. She said: "If you win, you can help a charity and I'm interested in helping charities for the disabled, because I have a disabled younger brother."

SUZANNE BALL

SUZANNE BALL: 22, from Eynsham, is a personal assistant at an IT firm. She said: "I entered Miss World last year and thought I would give Miss Oxford Mail a go. I'm trying to get into modelling and this will boost my confidence."

LYNDSAY FAYLE

LYNDSAY FAYLE, 17, from Denchworth, near Wantage, said: "Dancing is my greatest passion. My ambitions include graduating from university with an honours degree in osteopathy and running the marathon when I'm 21."

LETITIA POPPLEWELL

LETITIA POPPLEWELL, 18, from Eynsham, won a competition last year for a photoshoot at Double Take studios in London. She said: "I have been in Witney and District Swimming Club for 12 years, winning lots of medals. I would love to make it in the fashion industry as a catwalk model but if not, I would like to go to university to study psychology."

HOLLY MCBEAN

HOLLY MCBEAN, 19, from Bloxham, near Banbury, listed her talents as "horse-riding and making people feel good about themselves". She said: "I can always turn a negative into a positive - that's why I get told I'm a laugh to be around. My ambition in life is to be recognised as an individual. I would also like to train as a nurse."

PASCALE WATKINS

PASCALE WATKINS, 17, from Kidlington, said: "My friends came up to me in school one day and said I should enter, so I decided to give it a go. I was so nervous I was shaking during the photoshoot, but it has been great so far."

SASCHA COLLEN

SASCHA COLLEN: 21, from Warborough, near Wallingford, is studying to be a spiritual healer. She said: "I thought it would be fun - I have never entered a competition like this before and I want to see how far I can get."

VICTORIA CROSS

VICTORIA CROSS: 20, from Headington, is studying management at Oxford Brookes University. She said: "I have never been in one of these competitions before and I thought it would be a good opportunity."

SHENNA MCGUINNESS

SHENNA MCGUINNESS, 22, from Carterton, works as a business administrator in Long Hanborough for a firm of chartered surveyors. She said: "I have never done anything like this before, so I thought I would try something new. "I love horse-riding and I am doing a part-time skiing course."

NICOLA SMITHSON

NICOLA SMITHSON, 20, from Bampton, works as a contracts administrator.

POPPY ROBINSON

POPPY ROBINSON, 19, from Kidlington, is a waitress at the Harvester restaurant in Bicester Road.

HELEN DAWSON

HELEN DAWSON 21, from Cowley, Oxford, is studying performing arts at the University of Bedfordshire. She said: "My mum suggested that I enter and I thought I would give it a go. My main subject is dance and musical theatre is one of my main hobbies. Last week I went with my boyfriend to see the musical Wicked and we really enjoyed it."