A BEAUTY queen took time out from her busy schedule yesterday to give a few words of advice to a group of future pageant contestants.

Miss England, Danielle Lloyd, was in York to launch the MS York 2005 beauty contest.

She has agreed to be chairwoman of the judges at the event, which will raise thousands of pounds for the MS Woodlands Respite Care Centre in York.

The 21-year-old, from Liverpool yesterday met previous contestants including Olga Shepherdson (nee Markovits), who was a runner-up in 1961 and Joanne Weatherstone (nee Snowball), who was Miss York 1985.

She told the young women who have already entered the competition: "Just be yourselves, and look happy, smiley and confident. The more confident you are the better."

Contest organiser Vivienne Lee said more than 60 women had now applied, and she expected the number might grow to more than 100 by the closing date of Saturday, April 16.

Numbers will be whittled down to 25 by DK Model Management, which is offering a contract as one of the prizes.

It is the first time the competition has been held in York for 20 years and the winner will represent the area at Miss England 2005 in August.

The final will take place on Friday, May 20, at York Racecourse. Women aged from 17 to 24 living within 50 miles of York can enter MS York by logging on to www.events connect.co.uk