On Saturday, the 2011 Miss Earth pageant was held at the U.P. Theatre in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

It was Miss Ecuador, Olga Alva, who shone the most and bagged the major prize. The Philippine representative, Athena Mae Imperial, was given the title of Miss Water but nevertheless was cheered on by her fellow Filipinos with pride and delight. Venezuela representative Caroline Medina was given the title of Miss Fire while Brazil's Driely Araujo was hailed as Miss Air.

Looking every inch a life-sized Barbie doll, Alva stunned the judges when she answered quite articulately why world leaders should be looking to education as a top priority.

"Education is the best solution for the environment because children are those who have to preserve the Earth for future generations," the 5 feet, 8 inch tall beauty queen said without hesitation.

"I will continue working for the environment. I'm very proud to represent my country and have this crown. I'm very happy," the 23-year-old graciously said after her big win. She is referring, of course, to the duties of the winner to act as an ambassador for the environment.

Alva sparkled in her white sequined gown as she waved to an adoring crowd. The runner ups also looked spectacular -- Miss Philippines in a hot red number in a sea of creams and whites, Miss Venezuela a vision of beauty in a pink sequined gown and Miss Brazil looked absolutely ravishing in a silver and white sequined gown.

A Guayaquil, Ecuador, native, Alva is committed to preserving the rainforest and simultaneously planting more trees in place of those that have been cut down.

Alva is also very interested in Asian culture, learning Mandarin and studying in China for a year in order to know more about their traditions.

The new beauty queen put forward an ecological project for defending Ecuador's mangroves and has also pledged to become a spokeswoman for the protection of the Yasuni biosphere reserve in her country.

China Silver