Maltese girl vying to be princess bride

Last week Chettina Fenech, who lives in the UK, received a phone call from a local news agency informing her that she was one of the lucky brides-to-be chosen to take part in an online 'Bride of the Year' competition.

Given that she had never signed up for the competition, she was rather surprised to learn that she was one of 30 competing brides to be chosen out of some 2,000 entries.

But Chettina, 28, who is marrying her English fiancé Alex Masters in July, was only surprised at the good luck that put her in the running to winning fabulous wedding-related prizes. She had no doubt as to who had entered her into this competition organised by Bucks Free Press.

"I knew it was my mother. However, normally she gives me small things and I'd receive some surprise parcel in the mail. So, when a woman called me and told me that me and my fiancé's picture was going on the competition website, I was really shocked and immediately called my mum," Chettina told The Sunday Times.

Her mother then confessed that she had sent in a photo of Chettina and Alex accompanied by a letter describing a series of comical anecdotes about the couple. The competition judges were amused to learn how, on their first date, the two had to be kicked out of the restaurant at closing time because they were so into their conversation. Intrigued, the judges picked Chettina to compete for the title.

Now that she is involved in the competition, Chettina is determined to give it everything and win the prizes, which include a top designer wedding dress and funds to cover various wedding expenses.

She is calling on the Maltese public to support by voting for her especially because, unlike other contestants who have the backing of their friends and relatives, most of her relatives live in Malta.

Chettina explains that she and her family lived in the UK for several years when her father worked there. Her parents eventually moved back to Malta, and live in Gżira, but she decided to pursue her education in the UK.

About three years ago, she met Alex while working part-time at a software company to support her studies. She eventually left the company but remained in contact with him and, as friendship evolved into romance, they started dating.

Then, last year, they came to Malta together and he proposed to her in Valletta. Soon after, they got engaged.

Chettina and Alex will be tying the knot on July 5 in Buckinghamshire with a day-long wedding, which Chettina envisions will be "romantic, elegant and a cross between Maltese-Mediterranean and English-country-garden."

She is making sure that there is a strong Maltese element on their big day. So, every month, she has been coming to Malta to take a piece of it back with her. "For example, we will be having souvenirs I bought from Malta and the wine will be Maltese too," she says.

Today, Chettina will find out whether she has qualified for the final 10 brides and, confident that she will make it, she dreams of winning the competition in a week's time.

"I would love to win. I would love a Maltese person to win and I think it would be so nice for Maltese people to support me. I love it when we win things. I'm always one to root for Malta to win the Eurovision.

"Besides, winning would make my mum proud because, after all, she entered me into the competition. I really want to do the best I can for her and, obviously, for me and Alex because the more money we save on the wedding the more we have for our house... And, if I don't win, I'll still be so happy that everyone supported me anyway," she says.

Once the last 10 finalists are announced today, online voting for the title of 'Bride of the Year' will be open from tomorrow until Friday on www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/leisure/brideoftheyear07/cfubrideoftheyear.