Young ladies representing the country's 26 states and the federal district Brasilia are vying to qualify for the grand finale scheduled to take place in Sao Paulo on November 30.

The female derriere has traditionally had great symbolic significance in Brazilian culture, as attested by the wild popularity of bum dancing among the young.

"I think that the tropical climate, the carnival and all this racial mixing gives the Brazilian woman a unique biotype on the planet," pageant organizer Cacau Oliver, a well-known female beauty spotter, told AFP.

"The Brazilian woman's derriere is a part of the body that the whole world admires and the contest just reaffirms this," he added.

Contestants are required to register on the website www.missbumbumbrasil.com and to supply three photos. Organizers are to select the 15 finalists.

The winner will collect 5,000 reais ($2500), while second place will receive 3,000 reais and third place 2,000 reais.

Last year, model Rosana Ferreira won the title.

The contest comes as Brazilians are set to vote in nationwide municipal on Sunday, with a second round set for October 28.