The image of beauty contest entrants has taken a few knocks lately (writes Gray Ellison).

But one local young fashion student and professional model is doing her best to change all that.

On Saturday, June 27, Stephanie Westwood, 22, a petite finalist in Miss Wales 2009, set out to row a kayak across Carmarthen Bay to raise money for The Joshua Foundation.

Stephanie, who's studying fashion design at university, and been adventurous all her life, loves a challenge, and has already raised £1,000 for the charity created to provide holidays and experiences for children and their families, where the child is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The day began when Steph, her training partner Wayne Davis and their two Wilderness Systems kayaks were ferried by local businessman and boat owner Ian Harrison, across to the beautiful Caldey Island.

To warm-up for the row, Steph walked into the village where she bumped into a lone monk on the path. He read the inscription on her T-shirt: 'Miss Wales - Vote for Stephanie Westwood - text 84205', smiled calmly and blessed her. The omens were already good for a perfect crossing.

Back on the beach, Steph and Wayne, who were raring to kick-off the event they'd spent six weeks training for, had a last-minute chat about tactics. The coastguard gave the okay, and they were good to go.

At 4 pm precisely, the pair pushed their kayaks into the surf, and set out on a northerly heading across the bay to the beach at Amroth, a distance of some nine miles through tidal water.

As the sun baked down on a perfect summer day, the intrepid pair pushed hard away from the beach for the deep water of the bay. Within no time, they were approaching the old Napoleonic fort on Castle Island ?????, the quarter distance mark adjacent to Tenby. It quickly became obvious that everyone who'd predicted their crossing would take two to three hours was in for a big surprise. They were going great guns!

At just under an hour into what many had dubbed 'Steph's mad paddle', the two kayaks were drifting slightly out to sea, as they approached a line with the majestic Monkstone Point.

Within minutes, the word was out that they'd been sighted, and the beach-front was lined with crowds of well wishers outside the Amroth Arms, many of whom had been rooting for Steph ever since she first planned the event nearly two months before.

As the excitement was mounting on land, a series of dramatic events happened in quick succession at sea. A large log, as big as a small tree, lumbered by in the waves - missing them by feet!

Then suddenly, Wayne spotted a huge grey mass under the surface - just off his starboard side. 'Shark' 'Shark' came the shout. But it was just a four-foot basking shark, come to have a look! Panic over.

A few minutes later, as the 'Jaws' jokes sank nervously to the bottom of the bay, and both rowers were finding their second wind, a speedboat came out from Saundersfoot to greet the rowers, cutting up the surface creating medium sized waves on what had been a relatively calm sea.

But none of this deterred the pair as the on-shore breeze and tide worked together to speed them on their way. As they raced each other for the shore, their kayaks were skimming the surface like surfboards!

Just one hour and thirty five minutes after they set off from the calm of Caldey Island, they hit the beach at Amroth. Is that a record? Who knows, no-one's ever done it before!

Over the past six weeks, Steph, who's working two jobs as well as studying hard for her degree, is also pursuing a professional modelling career. The Miss Wales competition is one way she hopes to raise her profile.

But Stephanie Westwood is no fame junkie. The only girl in her primary school class, she grew up a tomboy, playing under 16 football for her county at 12. Ever since she was encouraged to enter for Miss Wales by Clare Daniels who won in 1999, she's worked tirelessly to raise sponsorship and publicise her kayak event.

"I don't want the fame and I don't want the money," she said, between shifts. "I just want the work."

What a refreshing and encouraging message from the generation that's supposed to be all about hoodies and instant gratification.

To vote for Steph to win Miss Wales 2009, send an SMS message containing 'Stephanie Westwood' to 84205 or call 0901 656 1550 and enter '63', or go to http://www.misswales.co.uk/misswales2009finalists/misswales2009votinglines.html">http://www.misswales.co.uk/misswales2009finalists/misswales2009votinglines.html