Newly-crowned Miss World Australia "hopes to break down barriers" after the title she won left the organisation barraged with calls for letting "a Muslim win".
Last Friday, Esma Voloder, 25, beat finalists from around Australia to claim the $68,000 pearl-encrusted crown in her adopted home, Melbourne.
Ms Voloder was born in a refugee camp after her parents escaped the Bosnian war.
Her family relocated to Melbourne where she gained a psychology degree and works as a criminal profiler in the city.
Miss World Australia national director, Deborah Miller said the organisation had plenty of "awful and demeaning calls" regarding Ms Voloder's win, The Daily Telegraph reported.
"We have had lots of calls, people saying terrible things."
Ms Voloder "forgives" the people that criticised her win. She said it "comes from a lack of understanding".
"I am hoping to break down the barriers by just being me," she said.
Faith is the value and philosophy Ms Voloder holds most dear.
"Faith in good, faith in prosperity, faith in cohesion, and faith that things can always get better," Ms Voloder said from the Grand Hyatt ballroom.
"Despite what your personal beliefs are, if we all believe in what is good, we can work together and make this world a beautiful and liveable place whilst we are here."
Newshub.
