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After winning the crown of Miss Australia back in August, Ashleigh Francis has been on a whirlwind adventure that has finally landed her in Hainan, for what will surely one of the most exciting nights of her life. Nick Ross-Edwards caught up with the vivacious 23 year old, who is representing her country at the world's oldest and most famous beauty pageant, which is being held for the 5th time in Sanya on October 30 2010.

Nick: You're already a fairly experienced traveller (Ashleigh has travelled extensively across Europe, America and other parts of Asia). I was curious to know if you have ever made it to China before?
Ashleigh: No, not really I had been to Hong Kong, but China itself was somewhere that I have always wanted to go, so I was so excited when I found out that Miss World was going to be held in Hainan.

Nick: So like most Australian's I assume that you had never heard of Hainan before you arrived, were you excited about visiting China's Island province?
Ashleigh: No, I hadn't really heard of it before, I knew that it had hosted Miss World before and I did a bit of research about the Island before I left. But I was really amazed by how beautiful and how scenic the island was, I thought, oh my god am I still in China (haha)!

Nick: Did you have any expectations on what the Island might be like before you arrived?
Ashleigh: No, not really, we travelled through China before we arrived in Hainan, which was amazing, visiting a number of different places like Ordos in Mongolia, then huge cities like Beijing and Shanghai. So I guess I was expecting something more relaxing and more welcoming but not somewhere that was so beautiful as well.

Nick: So what were your first impressions of Hainan and Sanya?
Ashleigh: I really liked it, it was so much different from the other parts of China, and especially coming from Shanghai, it was a really big change to be on this sunny sort of idyllic paradise. But it also had this lovely kind of liveliness, which was really exciting as well.

Nick: Have you managed to get around to any of the attractions around the Island at this stage?
Ashleigh: No not yet, we have been really busy, with rehearsals and events, which have been great, but it has meant that we haven't been able to get out and see the sights yet. So I'm taking 5 days after the competition to go out and see the sights, I'm going to relax and check out all the spa treatments, which will be very nice and also go see the Nanshan Buddhism Zone and Monkey Island which I'm told is really fun.

Nick: Have you been enjoying the unique local cuisine of Hainan? Have you managed to sample any of Sanya's incredible seafood?
Ashleigh: Yeah, we have had plenty of Hainan chicken and lots of different beautiful dishes, the food has been amazing, we all arrived so thin and trim and we've just been eating so well, it's a bit of a worry (haha) oh well.

Nick: How would you describe Hainan to all those people back in Australia who have never heard of it before?
Ashleigh: It's a paradise, just a step away from home, it's an unexpected beautiful Island and once you arrive you wont want to go back. It's also quite different from anywhere else, it has all the beauty of Bali or Thailand but it's also got such an incredible history and culture, which is really special.

Nick: So finally Ashleigh what has been your highlight so far of Miss World 2010?
Ashleigh: I think, the way that the Chinese people have been so welcoming, everywhere we have gone they have been so kind and friendly and I think that has been a real highlight. It's always so nice to explore another culture and I think we've been so lucky with everything that we have done so far.

Ashleigh did Australia proud at the event placing in the top 10 in the talent competition and the top 20 for both the sport and beach beauty section, but she unfortunately narrowly missed out on the top 25. Well-done Ashleigh!