TWO girls from Huddersfield University have made it through to the regional finals of a national student competition.

Eighteen-year-old Kate Rigby, who is studying fashion buying, and her friend Tara White, 19, who is studying advertising and marketing communications, have entered Miss Student UK (www.missstudentuk.com).

The contest seeks to find the brightest, most dynamic, most determined and most popular female student of the academic year.

The competition is held over a series of online and live regional and national heats.

And what started out as “a laugh” has become a campaign to make it through to the grand finals where a £10,000 cash prize awaits the winner, a European holiday for two, photo shoot and an optional two-year TV and modelling contract.

Kate said: “First of all it started as a laugh but then we realised that maybe we stood a chance. We started campaigning, ringing our previous schools, asking relatives and friends, made Facebook groups to help get votes and eventually we made it into the regional finals.

“We have continued to campaign and are planning to give it our all on February 24th at the regional finals. We hope to make it into the grand finals where we have a chance to win £10,000.”

Kate is now second in the region and Tara is in fourth place.

Supermodel turned business-woman Caprice will host the regional finals.

Kate said: “Huddersfield is not well-known enough and the university is amazing. Last year there were no Huddersfield candidates that made the finals, therefore we would like to not only raise awareness for the university but the town.

“It would be an honour if we could represent Huddersfield, proving that it is an inspiring place to live and learn.”

Kate contacted the Examiner after noticing other girls in the contest are gaining support from newspapers.

They are asking readers to log on to the website to help them reach the finals.

“It would help us immensely to reach the finals, proving that we are very serious about the competition and are determined to get far.

“We are average students; we play hard but work harder.’’

To support the girls and get them more points in the competition log on to the missstudentuk profile links. To gain points they need people to either add them as a friend, confirming it through their emails which is free, and earns 10 points or there is the option to sponsor them for £20 or advertise on their page

Kate added: “The support of you and your readers would make a massive difference.”

Visit: http://www.missstudentuk.com/student.asp?s=3301 and http://www.missstudentuk.com/student.asp?s=3303