THE contestants in the Miss York competition have been busy in the build-up to the weekend’s nail-biting final.

The 28 finalists have been asked to take part in a fashion initiative to make or buy a vintage-style or second- hand dress and then make it their own.

Competition organiser Naomi Smith said: “It shows the girls that it’s not all about what they wear but how they wear it, giving them a chance to put their personality into their outfit.”

Contestants went for the launch to the Vintage Emporium, a shop in Fishergate, to give them inspiration for their final pieces.

Sponsors Now And Then Fairs, previously known as York Does Vintage Meets Souk, run by Sam Agnew and Alex Claydon, will be judging the final Eco round, looking for “creativity and originality”.

Meanwhile, all of the 28 finalists have been asked to help raise money for Ward 34 at York Hospital in memory of Miss York finalist Emma Young, of Pickering, who lost her battle against cystic fibrosis.

Emma, who was treated on Ward 34, died aged 22 in 2009, while she was on the waiting list for a double lung transplant.

Nineteen-year-old Hannah Higginson, from Rawcliffe, has stuck her neck out with an unusual way to help raise money. Hannah dressed as a giraffe, her favourite animal, and ran almost 11km around Huntington Stadium to help raise about £250.

The City of York Athletics Club member said: “I was really pleased with how it went and hopefully it will make a difference to Ward 34.”

The final is being held at the Royal York Hotel on Sunday.