Miss Universe 2011: Miss Australia Fails in Brazil

Miss Australia, Scherri-Lee Biggs, could only manage a place in the Miss Universe top 10 despite being a hot favourite to take home the coveted title. Regarded as one of the top contenders after being unofficially named 'the most beautiful face in the pageant', the Perth beauty will no doubt be disappointed to have failed to make it into the top 5. It should still be regarded as an accomplishment for Biggs to have reached the top 10 whilst competing against 88 other women.

Held in Sao Paulo, the Miss Universe contest was celebrating its 60^th year and has certainly provoked many talking points over the course of the competition. Miss Colombia attracted her fair share of intrigue and ire with reports circulating that in the run-up to the competition she was photographed wearing a short dress with no underwear to conceal her modesty. Our own Miss Australia has been mired in controversy too as her evening gown was decreed to be overly sheer to the point of being see-through. She was also instructed to make alterations to her bikini, the offensive item apparently being deemed 'too sexy'.

Biggs has conquered her fair share of obstacles in becoming a top 10 Miss Universe contestant. When she was first declared the latest Miss Australia, there were some grumblings online from Australians who took umbrage at Biggs even being allowed to compete for the title as she was born in South Africa. Despite the initial stumbling blocks, the press coverage surrounding the 21 year-old certainly seems to show that Australia is now willing to openly embrace her as a representative of the country.

Despite failing to take home the title, Biggs will no doubt be lauded for her efforts in Sao Paulo and the world will embrace the first ever Miss Angola as a worthy winner.