Anisa Abdilahi represents New Zealand in Miss Tourism Queen Intenational 2007

Meet Anisa Abdilahi, one of the six contestants sent by New Zealand to participate in Miss Tourism Queen International 2007. The contestants were chosen from Miss Tourism New Zealand Asia Pacific beauty pageant held in May in Auckland. Stuff.co.nz reports:

Abdilahi, who is from Somalia, joined 16 other hopefuls at the pageant and was judged on a variety of factors, including her speaking skills, her bikini body and her chosen talent - belly dancing.

The 18-year-old, who is training to be an air hostess, says the pageant was a nerve-racking experience.

"I'm normally a really shy person," she says.

"I just tried my best not to look at the audience."

Abdilahi might find it hard to control her nerves at the Chinese contest. Major television networks will be broadcasting the event throughout the world.

Miss Tourism Queen which started since 1949 held more than 80 competitions. China has been hosting the competition since 2004. This year, more than one hundred countries will be participating in this contest. New Zealand is a major tourist destination around the world and this contest will give the country a major opportunity to promote its tourism industry.

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Stuff .co.nz