SEVENTY potential beauty queens from all around the UK gathered in Newport at the weekend for the Miss Inspiration beauty pageant, with one Gwent girl crowned winner.

The pageant was set up by Lydia Yhnell, Miss Galaxy Wales 2012/13 winner, who had always dreamed of running her own pageant.

In its second year, the pageant came to Newport’s Dolman Theatre on Saturday night for the competition final.

Ms Yhnell, who is originally from Newport, now lives in Caerphilly. She said: “It’s nice to bring it to my home town.”

The competition welcomes entrants from all across the UK from age six upwards. Some 70 finalists from all over the UK competed on the night, with more than 250 people in the audience.

The winner of Little Miss Inspiration was Little Miss Monmouthshire, also known as Shkayla, seven, who is actually from Newport.

Little Miss Newport, Rebecca, 12, claimed second runner-up.

The Little Miss category for girls aged six to12 years had three rounds.

Firstly, an opening number, followed by fun fashion and finally evening gown.

Other Gwent beauty queens won in the women’s round and the charity round.

Kelly Yhnell – or Miss Gwent – was the second runner-up for Inspiration Woman UK and was also awarded Charity Woman, for raising £100.

Little Miss Torfaen, Chloe, aged eight, scooped a charity prize for raising an impressive £670.

Prizes for winners included pageant jewellery, as well as a range of pamper packages.

There were numerous other contestants from Gwent who missed out on a crown, including Miss Chepstow, Cheryl Webb, and Little Miss Caerphilly, Ruby Chick, of Cross Keys.

Pageant director Lydia Yhnell said: “We are proud to mention that our second annual event has significantly exceeded our expectations.

“It’s an honour to work with such inspirational girls and women and we look forward to our 2015 grand final.”

Ms Yhnell congratulated the contestants for raising £6,000 for the chosen charity, the Lullaby Trust, which provides specialist support for bereaved families and promotes expert advice on safer baby sleep.