Jamberoo's Laura Thompson and Wollongong's Rhonda Price are two of 30 finalists in the Miss Earth competition, a national pageant that promotes beauty and a clean, green lifestyle.

Ms Thompson, a third year environmental sciences student at the University of Wollongong, said she wanted to use the pageant to increase awareness of environmental issues in the Illawarra.

"Through the competition you can have a certain standing in the community and therefore have a bit of influence on people," she said.

"We try to encourage our community to get involved ... I am going to speak to the kids at the local school about the importance of the environment and planting trees and global warming."

Miss Earth Australia is part of a global movement, involving about 100 countries.

"It's beauty with a purpose," Ms Thompson said.