Amazon's next top headquarters: US cities strut their stuff as firm seeks second home

The company's hunt for a city to host its second headquarters has prompted a bizarre beauty contest, amid the promise of jobs and an economic boost

Two hundred and thirty-eight candidates have been whittled down to 20. Getting there was "very tough" and everyone showed "tremendous enthusiasm and creativity", but there will be only one winner in the hunt for America's Next Top Amazon Headquarters.

The bizarre beauty contest has seen mayors around the country attempt to woo the $600bn technology company to build its second headquarters, Amazon HQ2, in their city, with offers of generous tax breaks, subsidised construction costs, gifts (including a giant cactus from Tucson, Arizona) and even name changes.