Twins compete for beauty title

Anna and Sadie Whatling are excited about entering the competition

Identical twins are competing against each other's looks to win a beauty contest.

Anna and Sadie Whatling, 21, from Barry, south Wales have put their names forward to enter the Miss Wales competition.

The girls, who share the same looks, will compete against 18 other entrants with the winner going through to Miss World 2003 in China.

But the sisters have admitted that the judges are going to have a hard job telling them apart when they walk down the catwalk.

"We have always enjoyed using our identical looks to play jokes on people - so the judges are going to have their work cut out," said Anna, who works for Customs and Excise.

"Neither of us ever dreamed of being beauty queens so we were amazed when we both won through to the final.

"We're so excited about the contest - we can't wait to get on the catwalk," she added.

The sisters will wear a variety of outfits to impress the judges

Her civil servant sister Sadie agreed: "We don't know how the judges will tell us apart - we look exactly the same in every way, even down to our measurements and dress sizes.

"We might even wear the same dresses and do our hair the same for a laugh - the judges would be completely baffled!"

The pair, who date brothers Darren and Leighton Kellaway, said that despite their similarities in looks, they have different personalities.

"People can't tell us apart when they first meet us," said Anna.

"But we are a bit different in personality. Sadie is outgoing and sweet and I'm determined and take charge.

"She's really bubbly and I'm probably bossier and forthright.

We're used to people doing a double take in the street when they see us Anna Whatling

"But it's great being twins - not only do you have a ready-made best friend but a wardrobe twice the size.

"We're used to people doing a double take in the street when they see us and we love to play it up for fun," she added.

During the competition held in September, the twins will take part in three catwalk rounds dressed in club wear, glitzy evening wear and athletic sports wear.

They also have an interview round where the judges will ask them about their likes, dislikes, opinions and ambitions.

But despite the competition, the girls say there is no sibling rivalry between them.

"It would be great for one of us to go to Miss World. It wouldn't matter which of us won - they would always have a stand in," said Anna.