KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Fiona Zuzartee decided that she would take part in the Miss MalaysiaIndian Global pageant because it was a "beauty contest" with a difference.

"It had no bearing on beauty. Rather, it was about empowering women," said the 20-year-old who beat 16 other contestants to become the Miss MalaysiaIndian Global 2008 at the KLCC last night.

Zuzartee, who aspires to be pilot, did not expect to win at all.

A product of mixed parentage -- her mother is Indian while her father is Portuguese -- Zuzartee said that she was elated.

She holds an international hotel and tourism management degree from Kolej Da-mansara Utama.

She won RM5,000 (S$2090) worth of jewellery and RM5,000 (S$2090) worth of Persian carpets.

Medical student Sowmya Krishnan, 20, was first runner-up, winning RM3,000 (S$1250) worth of jewellery, while business student R. Gayathiri, 20, was the second runner-up, winning RM2,000 (S$830) in jewellery.

The contest was organised by the Miss MalaysiaIndia Care Association, a non-profit organisation.