A BEAUTY queen from Oakdale has been helping to feed the homeless in the runup to the Miss Cymru International final on Saturday.

Eloise Witcombe, 21, a barmaid, is currently taking part in the Welsh leg of the Miss GB International pageant.

On Friday, January 11, the Miss Cymru International beauty pageant finalists hit the streets of Cardiff to give hot food and drinks to the city’s homeless.

Ms Witcombe said: “It was brilliant. It was so nice to see the smile on their faces when we gave them the food. It was really emotional, I think we all cried.

Obviously the weather is so cold at the moment as well, I think they all really appreciated having something warm to eat.

“A soup van goes round every Friday giving them hot soup, so we gave them some extra supplies too. It was lovely, they were really pleased.”

Ms Witcombe has previously taken part in Miss Caerphilly, where she won the place of second runnerup, and Miss Wales, where she received the Spirit of Miss Wales award.

She has also done volunteer work for the Joshua Foundation. She said: “I went to the Joshua Foundation centre in Cardiff in December to see the work they do, and it’s wonderful. I really enjoyed my visit, meeting the children and staff and seeing what a difference it makes.”

Ms Witcombe added: “I lost my mother three years ago to breast cancer and she would be really proud I’m in the final as she encouraged me to take part in my first pageant.

“I also promised her I would join the police, so I am applying to become a PCSO too.”

The Miss Cymru International final will be held on Saturday in Cardiff.

For more information visit www.thejoshuafoundation.c o.uk and www.missgbinternational.com