SOE questing for real-life EQII heroine

Sony Online Entertainment, purveyors of online games such as PlanetSide and Star Wars Galaxies, today announced that it will be holding a contest to find a real-life version of the EverQuest II heroine Antonia Bayle, Queen of Qeynos.

The competition, called Quest for Antonia, encourages women (sorry, fellas) who think they look like the fetching brunette (pictured above) to send in pictures to the official Web site beginning May 17, just enough time to give potential entrants time to dye their hair and hit the gym for that "only-in-games" figure.

The contest will be cosponsored by men's gadget monthly, Stuff Magazine, and will culminate in Las Vegas on August 13. Online voting will select semifinalists from the initial group, and five finalists will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Vegas courtesy of SOE and Stuff. A "pageant-style" competition, complete with a swimsuit competition and an interview session ("Peace across Norrath" anyone?), will crown the winner at the Palms Hotel & Casino during Stuff Magazine's Casino Weekend 4.

In addition to being the object of desire of every 20th-level dwarf online, the winner will receive a one-year modeling contract with SOE, a photo spread in an issue of Stuff, and "other prizes."

EverQuest II is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in a fantasy realm. Players go on quests, battle monsters, and find treasure while powering up their created character. Actress Heather Graham (Boogie Nights, Swingers) voices Antonia in the game.

EverQuest II is rated T for Teen and retails for $29.99. For more information on the game, read GameSpot's full review.