THERE are just a few hours to go before we reveal who will be crowned 2018 Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year.

More than 250 women from all over the country will gather at the Principal Grand Central Hotel tonight to watch the winner lift the trophy.

The first ever Young SWOTY will also be announced tonight, following an online vote.

The event – supported by our generous partner St Enoch Centre - is the culmination of months of hard work and preparation, with dozens of nominees having been whittled down to a final shortlist.

Last year’s winner, Sally Magnusson, will hand over the title to her successor in what promises to be an emotional and uplifting evening

The five finalists for the main award are Alice Thompson, who co-founded homelessness charity Social Bite; Monica Allan, whose landmark court victory means victims of violence will no longer lose out on compensation under the ‘same roof’ rule; nurse Gillian Taylor, who invented a life-saving patient transfer scale; Jenny Graham, who smashed the women’s round-the-world cycle record; and Lucy Lintott, who has dedicated her life to raising money for and awareness of Motor Neurone Disease, after being diagnosed at the age of 19.

The Young SWOTY contenders are Taylor Smith, world hip hop dance champion who is a role model in her school, Drumchapel High, and the wider community; parasprinter Maria Lyle, who has won a raft of major titles as well as raising awareness of mental health issues; Sanna Aziz, equal rights campaigner who has overcome bullying to fight against injustice; and Chelsea Cameron, who dedicates her time to supporting children struggling to cope with their parents’ addictions.