She has certainly got the looks of a pop star – but has former Miss England Laura Coleman got the voice?

The 23-year-old has made it through to the final 11 in a nationwide search to find a new pop group.

The first round of the Nation's Band competition took place in Leicester Square, where Laura and the other hopefuls performed in front of a celebrity audience including EastEnders and former Strictly Come Dancing finalist Matt D'Angelo, TV presenters Gail Porter and Sara Cawood, and singers Andy and Lisa Scott Lee, as well as some of the recent X Factor finalists.

People can vote online by watching clips on video-sharing site YouTube, and the final line-up of seven will be revealed today.

Laura, of Asfordby, near Melton, is urging fans to watch her clip – a performance of Kings of Leon's Use Somebody – on social networking site Twitter. It has been viewed nearly 3,000 times.

She said: "I love music and I love singing. What a great opportunity to be in a band like this. Please vote for me."

The competition aims to create a new mixed-sex pop group and get them into the charts in just two weeks.

The group will record three potential singles and learn choreography to each. They will also have three different photo-shoots and be helped by renowned industry experts.

The public will then become judges again to decide which song the group will release, which style they should go for and even the name of the band.

It is billed as an "audacious bid" to rival shows such as X Factor and Britain's Got Talent.

A Nation's Band spokesman said: "This will not only become 'the nation's band' but will also be a record-breaking attempt – never before have seven individuals gone from obscurity to chart success in such a time.

"The seven with the most views and the most votes combined will be announced and the band will embark on the biggest journey of their lives.

"This will grab the imagination of the public and create worldwide attention."

To vote for Laura, text "the nation's band" and Laura Coleman to 07990 972737.

Alternatively, visit YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=0hm9q6fgYF4&sns=em