Kanahooka beauty our Miss World entrant

ALTHOUGH she's been crowned Miss World Illawarra, don't call Kanahooka teen Kristy Joyce a beauty queen.

The 18 year old is quick to point out other facets of the Miss World competition.

"It's not just about beauty its about what you have inside," she said.

"You have to do public speaking and put yourself out there for charity "? A lot of my friends said, "?What, you think you're a beauty queen?'. But it's not like that."

Kristy was crowned on Saturday after two days of competition.

Contestants were judged on five categories: Poise and elegance, communication, talent, healthy body, and fitness.

Kristy won the poise and elegance contest in addition to the overall prize.

She will compete at the Miss World NSW competition in Sydney in November and hopes to ultimately represent Australia at the international contest. However, her feet are still planted on the ground.

"I'd like to tell other girls that it isn't just a beauty contest," she said.

Anyone can enter and give it a go. And there's great prizes."

She was not exaggerating. With a prize haul that includes a $2000 travel voucher, $1000 in cash, a $2000 gold diamond ring and a modelling contract, Miss World Illawarra is an enviable position.

However, there is a more serious side to the contest.

With the theme "beauty with a cause", the Miss World competition prides itself on its charity fundraising efforts.

Miss Illawarra 2006 Katie Richardson has helped raise more than $500,000 for a variety of charities since she won the contest last year.

Kristy said her goal as Miss World Illawarra was to support charity causes, including the Starlight Foundation and Carinya Cottage, a Wollongong women's refuge run by the Salvation Army.