Shropshire’s Face of the Future Cherida Lauriello fulfilled her final appointment this week returning to help find the finalists for our 2009 competition.

See the finalists in our photo gallery below.

Cherida returned home to the county from university to be one of the judges in Face of the Future, the annual Shropshire Star competition run in conjunction with Telford Shopping Centre, and she said her year had simply flown by.

“It is really quite sad coming to the end of the year. It has been such a lot of fun, I have enjoyed everything that I have done as Shropshire’s Face of the Future,” she said.

However, helping to find the 2009 finalists was one of the more difficult tasks, said Cherida, who lives near Oswestry.

“I had not realised what a difficult job the judges had and I wish we could have included more. I wish all finalists the very best of luck,” she said.

The 10 finalists have now been revealed as: Rachael Thomas, of Kinnerley, Lorna Hullah, of Craven Arms, Kathryn Richards, from Brookside, in Telford, Jodie Lee Jones, of Ketley in Telford, Nicki Wilkes, from Acton Round, near Bridgnorth, Kirsty Liddell, from Donnington, Hannah Yapp, from Craven Arms, Casey Johnson, of Hollinswood, in Telford, Aimee Woodhall, of Lightmoor, in Telford, and Emma Brown, from Highley, near Bridgnorth.

All 10 now take part in a glamorous photoshoot next week when they hope to impress the judges and show they could be a perfect ambassador for Shropshire and the shopping centre.

The setting for the event is the beautiful Weston Park on the Shropshire border. Its elegant interior will provide the perfect backdrop for the finalists to model a collection of stunning evening wear.

They will be pampered by hair and beauty experts from Rizzo to ensure they look their best for the shoot.

And the Shropshire Star will be on hand to capture shots of them as they show off the dresses.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges.

All 10 finalists will be featured in the Star between Christmas and New Year with the 2009 Face of the Future due to be announced on New Year’s Day.

She will then have an exciting year ahead representing the Telford Shopping Centre at at least four events.