Beijing: Miss India, Ami Vashi, has emerged as one of the favourites of bookies among 106 beauties competing for the Miss World 2003 title to be decided on December 6 in Sanya City in South China.

Besides 22-year-old Vashi, the beauties from China, Ireland, Norway, Venezuela and Brazil are also tipped to win the coveted title, according to readabet.com website.

Another website, global beauties. com has included Vashi among the top 12 hopefuls out of 106 at the competition.

An article on the pageant on Readabet.com noted that Miss India has become Miss world four times in the last 10 years, while no one else has won it more than once in this period.

It also points out that Vashi has come through what is "the toughest national contest on the planet".

"With the record of her country, it is perhaps not surprising that the best odds to be found are 16/1," it said.

"The Indian entrant will always be in with a chance but could they really win it for the fifth time this decade?" the website article wondered.

Meanwhile, according to the Website of the beauty pageant, Miss Ireland, Rosanna Davison was named Miss World beach beauty 2003, which was held on Friday (Nov 28) in Sanya.

The beach beauty contest is one of five individual contests being held before the final of the Miss World contest. The winners of each of the individual contests automatically go into the top 20 for the final on December 6.

Organisers say the finals would be watched by over two billion people, putting it behind only the Olympics opening ceremony and the football world cup final in terms of viewing figures.

PTI