Most beauty queen contestants famously tell the judges they want to travel the world… but Rebecca Geldard wants to save the world.

Rebecca has her fingers crossed she has the green credentials as well as the looks to win one of the world’s biggest beauty pageants.

The 20-year-old, who holds the Miss Aire Valley title, is set to battle it out against more than 40 contestants in the English finals of Miss Earth UK.

The competition is the third largest international beauty pageant and the only one with the aim of promoting environmental issues.

Former Skipton Girls’ High School pupil Rebecca has already been chosen from 20 semi-final hopefuls to represent Yorkshire and Humberside.

If she wins the UK Miss Earth title on Friday, August 29, she will be flown to the Philippines in October for the international finals. There she would help plant trees and learn about environmental conservation projects.

Rebecca, of Compeigne Avenue, Riddlesden, said: “This is the only pageant with an environmental angle, so it has got that important purpose behind it. “I think it will be brilliant. It is a big event with a catwalk show in evening wear and then we have to talk about our campaign and what we would like to do for the environment.”

After being crowned Miss Aire Valley earlier this year, Rebecca raised £500 for two cancer charities, the Walk With Cancer campaign and the Institute of Cancer Research, in memory of her mum, who died of cervical cancer when Rebecca was just three.

Rebecca was also a winner in this year’s Telegraph & Argus Modelsearch competition.

Now the psychology student and part-time model has started a new campaign to make everyone aware of climate change and what they can do to combat the problem.

Rebecca said: “I think environmental issues are very important. I think it is something that everybody should be constantly aware of because things like climate change affect everybody, and that’s my motto for Miss Earth – every little helps.”

At the awards event in Leamington Spa on Friday, August 29, and Saturday, August 30, prizes will be on offer for beauty queens representing the four elements – Miss Fire, Miss Water, Miss Air and the top honour, Miss Earth.

The four winners of Miss Earth UK will compete with contestants from more than 90 countries in the international televised pageant.

e-mail:marc.meneaud@telegraphandargus.co.uk