Indian origin girl to represent Australia in 'Miss Universal'

SUVA: Fiji-born Indian model Pooja Priyanka has been selected to represent Australia in the 2015 edition of "Miss Universal Peace and Humanity" pageant to be held in Dubai from August 18 to 30, a media report said on Tuesday.

"I am both humbled and honoured to be representing my country Australia in the annual pageant in Dubai this 2015," Priyanka posted on Facebook, the Fiji Times reported.

"I am looking forward to meet all the beautiful contestants from over 80 countries and can't wait to work with all of them to take on challenges we face in our world today," said Priyanka, who is also a dancer and actor.

She was second runner-up in "Miss Face of Beauty" international pageant 2014.

"Miss Universal Peace and Humanity 2015" is an international beauty contest founded by the World Peace Mission Organisation under the patronage of the International Human Rights Commission (IGO).

"The aim is to awaken, through the theme of peace, the peoples of all countries to create a peaceable, fraternal and harmonious world community," says the organisation's website.

India-born model-turned-actress Ruhi Singh was crowned "Miss Universal Peace and Humanity" in the 2014 edition of the charity event.