Young women in the central Asian state of Uzbekistan are taking part in the first ever national beauty contest.

The title they're competing for is a standard one - Miss Uzbekistan - but this time it's not just their looks they're being judged on.

The organisers have made clear this is a beauty contest unlike all others.

Bathing suits banned

The traditional swimming costume has been banned on the orders of the president's office and it's the women's inner beauty, the organisers say, that they're being judged on - not just their physical appearance.

Uzbekistan is the largest Muslim state in the former Soviet Union, and while the country's leaders are vehemently opposed to the Islamic path of some of its neighbours, this is still a deeply traditional society where a woman's modesty is sacrosanct.

The contest organisers are taking no chances.

The 24 young women are modelling only the traditional Uzbel - a long, colourful dress and silk trousers - and it's their moral values on womanhood and motherhood on which they say they're being judged.

The lucky winner could enter Miss World

But that's not stopped the usual young hopefuls.

An 18-year-old student from Samarkand sees the contest as "a great opportunity for me to show my talent and to show my...maybe my prettiness."