A PENARTH beauty is hoping to put the town on the map by winning the Miss International Great Britain beauty pageant.

Danielle Winch will first compete in the Miss Wales International pageant on January 26, and if she is successful there, she will move on to the national heats and potentially then the international final in Chicago.

The 28-year-old, who works in the legal sector and was a finalist for Miss Universe Great Britain in 2010, says she entered the competition as she believes it is an opportunity to become a role model, while raising awareness of the chosen charity, The Joshua Foundation.

She has raised money for the foundation in the past, arranging a charity night at the Vale Hotel in Hensol as part of the earlier competition.

A former county-level athletics star and accomplished dancer, Danielle said she hopes her 2010 experience will stand her in good stead.

"I'm hoping that my past knowledge of pageants and how they work will give me the boost I need this year," she said.

"I enjoy the whole process but my favourite part is probably the build-up and the promotional work beforehand.

"We do a lot of work raising awareness of various causes, and next week for example we are helping the homeless in Cardiff - those experiences are invaluable for me."

This will however be her last pageant, as Danielle - who graduated with a degree in Events Management in 2007 - is on course to become a legal representative for the police within the next 18 months.

Miss Wales International will be held at Porthcawl Pavilion.