A TOTAL of 18 young and talented girls in southern Iloilo City are ready to challenge the title of actress and model Iya Villaña by joining the regional search for Ms. Silka 2009.

Sponsored by CosmetiquesAsia and Travel and Marketing Expert (TMX) Inc., the pageant on June 3, 2009 introduced candidates to the public at Amigo Plaza Mall.

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Candidates wore the creations of seven stores engaged in clothing and accessories.

The clothing stores are among the many clothing and accessories tenants of newly refurbished Amigo Plaza that also hosts a hotel, restaurants, café deli shops, and electronic gadget shops.

Candidates range in ages from 15 to 23 years old. They must be a true Ilongga and of good moral character. They were pre-selected by TMX from more than 100 applicants.

The general public is enjoined to participate and choose the candidates through ballots accompanied by empty bottles, sachets, and wrappers of bath soap, cologne, and other skin products of Silka.

TMX is in charge of the distribution of ballots, which may be availed of at its office in the ground floor of Amigo Plaza.

Candidates will undergo a talent competition on July 3, 2009 at Robinsons Place Iloilo, swimwear competition on July 10 at El Dorado Water Park at Smallville complex, and the final pageant and coronation night on July 25 at WVSU cultural center.

The winner of the Iloilo search will vie for the national competition slated in Metro Manila by September this year. Big cash prizes, modeling, and television and movie acting contracts and the chance to dislodge actress Iya Villaña as Silka image model await the pageant winner.