NINE-year-old Grace Hopson has been picked to represent Milford Haven as the town’s Carnival Queen in July.

Grace was picked from around 35 girls at a competition at the Pill Social Centre on Saturday, May 10.

The all-women panel of judges, which included outgoing Mayor Cllr Yvonne Southwell, also named Grace’s four attendants: Kayla Boast, 7, Eloise Hull, 11, Ella Barrett, 9, and eight-year-old Seren Holzman.

The winners were chosen through a selection of games and activities designed to celebrate ‘inner beauty’ – with judges looking for qualities such as kindness, leadership and working as a team. This was followed by an ‘interview’ with the panel.

Mayor’s consort, Ron Southwell, said he had been very impressed with the way the contest was run.

“There’s so much pressure on little girls to be ’11 going on 22’, we need to let them be children.

“The activities involved finding out what it is to be beautiful on the inside.

“I have so much praise for the way Milford Haven Round Table run the competition,” he said.

All entrants went home with a goody bag, and the winners will feature on the Carnival Queen float in this year’s procession on July 5.