Macao is going to hold its first beauty pageant in 11 years, the organizers of the 2008 Miss Macao event announced on Monday.

There would be ten contestants in the pageant. The pageant, held on Sept. 7 this year, would be co-organized by the G&L Group and Sun Innovation Holdings Limited.

Four of the ten contestants are still university students. The youngest of them is Martina Wat, a local university student, and the oldest is 26, who currently works as a dancing teacher, the organizers said.

The winner of the Miss Macao event will represent Macao in the promotion of its tourism and culture, and the event will be a new platform to boost Macao's international image as a tourist destination, said Helena Fernandes, acting director of Macao Special Administrative Region government Tourist Office.

The ten contestants have been undergoing a series of trainings provided by the organizers. They will later take part in out port shooting and charity activities, as well as etiquette and grooming classes.

Along with the Miss Macao pageant, the Miss International Beauty Pageant for 2008 will also take place in Macao on Nov. 8 this year.

       
Miss Asia Pageant 2006 winner Daryna Shevchenko poses after winning the Miss Asia Pageant in Macau, Monday, Oct. 30, 2006.