Sixty Miss Great Britain final contestants braved freezing weather to parade around a beach in skimpy swimsuits.

The models – who are hoping to win the Miss GB contest tonight – put on one-piece costumes to pose for photographs on Weston-super-Mare beach.

They braved temperatures of -2˚C and a strong wind to strut their stuff in front of the Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier, recently reopened after a £50 million refurbishment following a devastating fire.

Among the contestants hoping to walk off with the beauty crown is single-mother Charlotte Campbell.

Ms Campbell, 23, who gave birth to son Bobby two years ago joins four other mothers, who are married, in reaching the final.

The black belt in Taekwando was recently crowned Miss York City and entered the national competition after the rules were changed to allow single mothers to compete for the first time in 65 years.

Ms Campbell, who is a qualified pole dance teacher and has even set up her own fitness club, hopes to win the title by impressing judges with her new skills.

She said: “I definitely like to think of myself as a role model representing other single women around the country that have got young children, especially single mothers that are raising their children alone.

“I feel extremely privileged to be part of such a ground breaking and historical change in the rules with beauty pageants and bringing the beauty pageant industry up to date and I am very proud to be part of that.

“I’d like to think I can (win) but there are 60 girls here and everyone’s special in their own way.

“A lot of the girls are very beautiful and everyone’s got a different story as well. You just never know, it’s going to be very tough competition but I am here to win.

“I am working as a model part-time at the moment and looking after my little boy as well.

“When the competition’s finished and depending how it goes, I’d like to think I’d be modelling a bit more and I will certainly be sticking with my modelling career.”

Unmarried mothers are being allowed to enter Miss Great Britain for the first time in a move to modernise the oldest beauty contest in the UK.

To promote equal opportunity, new owner Liz Fuller has also banned bikinis, with a return to a one-piece swimsuit round.

Ms Campbell will also be competing against teenager Marita Davies.

The 19-year-old, who plans to go to university next year, was in a wheelchair for a year and had to learn to walk after she suffered terrible injuries as a passenger in car that crashed on New Year’s Eve three years ago.

Marita, who was crowned Ms Nottingham City earlier this year, said she could be a role model for other people facing life changing circumstances.

“I broke my back in 2007 and I am now fully recovered due to hard work and determination,” she said.

“I want to win Miss Great Britain as I feel I could give so much to other people through my title.

“I have experienced a lot at a young age but this has made me learn a lot about life and the world.

“If I won I would love to help those with disabilities as I have been there myself and can relate to them.”