Tuesday, June 7 2005 08:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Actress Aishwarya Rai, voted the ninth most beautiful woman in the world, feels the "honour" will give her more opportunities to represent the new Indian woman in the international arena.

"I think it's an honour. It's something I cherish," Aishwarya said about coming in the top 10 in the poll conducted by Harpers and Queen magazine for its July issue.

The Bollywood actress, who has been featured on the covers of several foreign magazines, said she had always relished the chance to present to the world the face of the modern Indian woman.

"(The Miss World) title wasn't about being a beauty queen, it wasn't about being the Miss World. It was about representing the Indian woman internationally and I thank God that I still have the chance to do that time and time again," she told NDTV.

Aishwarya said she and the people who worked with her were "surprised every day" by the opportunities she got.

"And for whatever reasons I am getting these opportunities, I am thankful to God," she said.