Teenage Aussie is Miss India Worldwide

A 19-year-old resident wins the title of Miss India Worldwide 2011 in UAE.

Miss India Australia Ankita Cheryl, left, impressed judges with her singing.
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ABU DHABI // Ankita Cheryl overcame her nerves to clinch the title of Miss India Worldwide 2011.

As Miss India Australia, Ms Cheryl was one of 26 Indian women competing for the title at the Emirates Palace hotel on Saturday.

And it was the 19-year-old's wit, poise and voice that secured her victory.

Ms Cheryl had appeared nervous as the first contestant to introduce herself on stage, but returned in a different mood hours later to impress the judges with her singing.

"It was Ankita's confidence and how she carried herself throughout the rounds that impressed us," said Archana Kochhar, a Bollywood designer and a member of the jury.

She said it was a close race between Ms Cheryl and Miss India USA, the first runner-up.

The pageant consisted of a gown segment, talent show and question-and-answer session. Participants were judged on personality, talent, stage presence, confidence and self belief.

When asked what she hoped to achieve if she won the title, Ms Cheryl said: "To provide equal opportunities irrespective of class and creed to all the people in the world - children, elderly, youth, the underprivileged to accomplish and become what they have always aspired to be."

Her mother, Nimmi Ghazan, 45, who works as a registered nurse in Sydney, said: "I supported her decision to join from the beginning because she loves singing and always wanted to present herself."

Ms Cheryl received a cash prize of US$9,000, in addition to modelling contracts and sponsor prizes.

The second runner-up was Anuradha Devika from Trinidad.

The contest, launched in 1990 to bring Indians from around the world together to represent culture and talent, is produced by the New York-based organisation IFC.

This article has been corrected since original publication. The cash prize received in the pageant is US$9,000, not Dh100,000 as originally reported.