A YORK attraction is searching for a beauty queen with a difference to reign over its summer sideshow, Carnivale.

The York Dungeon is encouraging people from all walks of life and all shapes and sizes to apply to be its Carnivale queen, or even king.

The shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a coronation outside the city centre attraction at 11am on Yorkshire Day, August 1. The winner will be selected by the dungeon’s own courtroom judge before being crowned the alternative Carnivale Queen.

The reigning winner will also receive a selection of prizes.

The Carnivàle sideshow runs until September 1 and will star a cast of colourful characters, from the darkly entertaining Ringmaster Walter to the mischievous Madame Caroline. Visitors will be encouraged to try their hand on the wheel of misfortune and prepare to be amazed in the discombobulating Hall of Mirrors.

Prospective Carnivale Queens need to submit their photos, along with a few lines or 140 characters of why they’re the best person for the job and email it to: york.dungeons@merlinentertainments.biz, or upload to Facebook; facebook.com/TheYorkDungeon or Twitter twitter.com/ YorkDungeon using the hashtag, #carnivalequeen