Avalanche of belles vie for Miss Italy title

ROME (AFP) - Bikinis strapped firmly in place, a record 20,000 young hopefuls tried their luck in this year's Miss Italy beauty pageant, which will be broadcast live on national television later this month, organisers said.

The Italian contest has provided a starting block for world-famous actresses including Sophia Loren, in 1950, and Gina Lollobrigida in 1947.

Participation was up 16.5 percent in 2004 compared to last year, with thousands of young girls turning out to take part in one of around 1,000 selection days across the country, organisers said.

The 240 semi-finalists will come face-to-face on RaiUno public television, for four days starting on September 15.

Miss Italy 2003, an 18-year-old Sicilian who described herself as a "pest and a liar", had gone on to star in a television series and recently signed a two-year contract with RaiUno.

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