Indian wins award at an international pageant

Mahima Chaudhary has won the Personality Award at an international pageant held in Beijing while Russia's Olga Zarubia was crowned Miss Tourism Queen International 2007.

"I am very happy about this achievement, especially since the category (personality) in which I got this award is quite different from others," a beaming 19-year-old Chaudhary told PTI.

The Miss Tourism Queen International 2007 was held last night in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province.

For the Mumbai-based Chaudhary, who is doing her Bachelors in Commerce, the pageant was the first international exposure.

"I enjoyed every bit of it and now I wish to be back home as soon as possible," she said, adding that her parents and her 10-year-old sister were quite happy about her achievement on her first attempt at an international pageant.

During her three week-long stay in China, Chaudhary along with other contestants, including one from Pakistan and Sri Lanka, travelled to many Chinese cities and interacted with local people, sharing their culture and cuisine as ambassadors of tourism.

About her winning the prize at the pageant here and her ongoing assignments back home, Chaudhary said she expected a hectic schedule in coming days.