Sydney opera singer Erin Holland takes Miss World Australia title

A SYDNEY opera singer and self-described ugly duckling has been crowned Miss World Australia.

A SYDNEY opera singer and self-described ugly duckling has been crowned Miss World Australia.

Erin Holland beat 32 hopefuls in the finals in Melbourne at the weekend.

A stunned Ms Holland told The Daily Telegraph: "I used to be an ugly duckling so I don't know what happened! I was the band geek at school who boys weren't interested in."

Ms Holland, 24, has a Bachelor of Classical Voice degree from the Sydney Conservatorium Of Music. Her dream is to star on Broadway."I never identified with being a model or a beauty queen," she said.

Erin Holland

"Appearance wasn't a great priority growing up. Sitting in front of a mirror wasn't how I lived my life."

Ms Holland began dabbling as a model 18 months ago. But she is wary of the superficial side.

"Beauty doesn't last forever," she said. "A pretty face is a pretty face for a certain amount of time, then what are you left with? I think it's important to be well-rounded."

Her soprano voice and genuine demeanour made her an early favourite at the pageant, judged by a panel including Big Brother and Celebrity Apprentice star Layla Subritzky and The Voice 2013 finalist Tim Morrison.

Miss World Australia Erin Holland

Newcastle model turned photographer Natalie Roser was named runner-up.

The question and answer round, a classic stumbling block for many a Miss World, did not disappoint.

Miss World Australia winner Erin Holland

Quizzed about sexism in society, one contestant marvelled at our multiculturalism.

When asked to define the role of Miss World, one channelled Shakespeare, warning: "Heavy is the head that wears the crown."

Erin Holland

Another paraphrased Spider-Man, saying the title "comes with great responsibility".

But best of the night was a theory that good-looking women make better tin rattlers.

"Women with beauty attract (men with) deep pockets," one sash-wearer told the gasping crowd, then asserted, hands on hips: "It's a fact!"