NEW Zealand supermodel Rachel Hunter believes a sense of humour is one of the most important qualities a girl should have.
Ms Hunter made her first official appearance yesterday as the second international judge alongside Fear Factor Grand Champion USA Mark Hewlett for the Carpenters Fiji Miss World competition.
"I think a sense of humour, a compassionate heart and always reaching out to the communities, they're all part of contesting in beauty pageants," Ms Hunter said.
The Los Angeles-based supermodel is one of four judges who'll select the Fiji representative to the Miss World pageant in Mongolia. "I am excited to be here, this being Fiji's first Miss World competition will be exciting for the contestants too," she said.
Ms Hunter said the Fiji contestants were "gorgeous" because they represented the diverse backgrounds they were brought up in.
"They're not shy and the pageant opens up a lot of doors for them where everyone's a star and there are bigger things the girls could accomplish through the pageant," she said.
Mr Hewlett said the Fiji pageant ensured the exotic look "which is something that's really in right now".
The Fear Factor champion said there were huge opportunities for the contestants to speak their minds in the Beauty With A Purpose-theme pageant.
The finals will be held this Saturday at the Suva Civic Centre.