SHE takes out her little purse and pulls out a pink name card.

On one side of the card is her picture.

On the other side is a list of five beauty pageant titles she has won.

And now she has won a sixth.

Nothing unusual, except Vina Lim is just 7 years old.

She has taken part in about 100 beauty and talent contests - all before she turned 7, claimed her mother.

Vina has just been crowned Little MissUnited Nation.

She beat contestants from 30 other countries at the pageant held in Georgia, in the US, on 15 Aug in the under-9 category.

Another Singaporean, Madam Patricia Ng, was crowned the overall winner in another category, the Ms United Nation International 2007.

The 35-year-old businesswoman beat 60 other contestants from America, Europe and Asia in the annual contest.

Madam Ng and Vina are the first Singaporeans to win the contest.

Said Vina, a CHIJ St Nicholas primary 1 pupil: 'I like any type of competition and I want to take part in more in the future. I just like to make new friends. I also want to learn how to ride a horse.'

It's hard work keeping up with Vina's activities.

Said her mother, Madam Ong Geok Ting, a housewife: 'Vina is so busy that every day after school she has to eat lunch in the car on the way to classes.

'I have never forced her to go into this line, but she's so full of energy that it would be wasted if her talents are not used.'

Vina's classes include drawing, acting, singing, Chinese poetry recital, gymnastics, hip-hop, ballet, modelling and swimming.

On average, Madam Ong spends about $1,000 a month on her daughter's classes.

Each week day, Vina devotes at least five hours to her talent classes.

This is on top of her regular school work and tuition, said Madam Ong.

On the weekends, both mother and daughter head to various contests held at community centres or shopping malls.

Added Madam Ong: 'Sometimes I feel tired accompanying her. But I'm willing to sacrifice as long as my daughter enjoys it and learns something new.

NOT ABOUT WINNING

'It has never been about winning for Vina. All she wants is to have fun and make friends.'

While having fun, Vina won titles like Supreme Universal Princess, Little Miss Barbie Doll, Disney Princess, Little Miss Universe and Little Tot Cinderella.

At the Little Miss United Nation pageant, the judges were tickled silly when Vina was asked who she thought would win.

Said Madam Ong, who accompanied her daughter to the US: My daughter replied unashamedly, 'Of course me lah. That's because I support my country the most.'

Singapore's other winner, MadamNg, had previously taken part in two other international pageants but did not win.

Said Madam Ng: 'I was not disheartened when I failed to return with a crown.

'It only made me stronger and I told myself that I needed to improve my skills necessary for the next pageant. Winning this pageant was a pleasant surprise.'

The United Nation Pageant was established in 1996 after its founder, Sarah Boothe, saw how the pageant industry appeared to care more about advertising and sponsorship rather than the contestants and their accomplishments.

Each title holder is selected based on her inner qualities, beauty, personal accomplishments, commitment to community service.

They paid $1,500 to enter the pageant and also had to pay their own air fare.