The hunt is on to find the new Miss Sheppey.

Current carnival queen Emily Pope, 13, from Minster stands down at the selection dance at Sheerness East Working Men’s Club on Saturday (February 24).

Contestants must live on Sheppey and be aged from five to 18. There are three categories: Rosebuds from five to six, juniors from seven to 12 and seniors from 13 to 18.

Winners must be able to represent the Island at Kent carnivals throughout the year and be available for the Sheppey summer carnival on August 18 and a photo shoot on Sunday February 25.

Emily, who goes to Highsted Grammar School in Sittingbourne, has been representing the Island for the past year along with princesses Faith Chawner, 17, from Queenborough and Abigail Bolt-Mead, 13, from Minster.

Darcey Kidd, 12, of Halfway, is the reigning Junior Miss Sheppey with princesses Keira Collins Kiazim, 11, from Warden and Georgia-May Conway, 13, of Halfway.

Sheppey Rosebud Poppy Holland-Rowe of Eastchurch celebrated her eighth birthday on the float on carnival day.

The court has chalked up 15 firsts, 13 second places and 14 third places during the past year and the girls’ Under The Sea float was named Float of the Year at the recent Invicta Kent carnival ball.

To take part in the selection, download an entry form from the Sheppey Summer Carnival Club website sheppeysummercarnival.co.uk or send details to 127, St George’s Avenue, Sheerness.

You should include your name, date of birth, address, phone and email, shoe and dress size, hobbies, occupation or school, why you’d like to be Miss Sheppey and what your ambitions are.

Tickets for spectators at the selection dance cost £4 (under-14s go free). Doors open at noon for the Rosebuds. Selection for the juniors starts at 3pm and the senior selection begins at 7pm.

For more details, call Joan McCall on 01795 667927.