Bikini babes - and carbon emissions

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TOP FOUR: Miss Earth Water Jessica Barboza of Venezuela, 22, Miss Earth Air Sandra Seifert of the Philippines, 25, Miss Earth winner Larissa Ramos of Brazil, 20 and Miss Earth Fire Alejandra Echevarria of Spain, 20.

WINNERS: Miss Earth Fire - Alejandra Echevarria of Spain, 20, Miss Earth Air - Sandra Seifert of the Philippines, 25, Miss Earth winner - Larissa Ramos of Brazil, and Miss Earth Water - Jessica Barboza of Venezuela.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED: From left to right are Miss Earth Fire - Miss Spain Alejandra Echevarria Seifert, 20, Miss Earth Air - Miss Philippines Sandra Seifert, 25, Miss Earth winner - Miss Brazil Larissa Ramos and Miss Earth Water - Miss Venezuela Jessica Barboza, 22.

TOP MODEL: Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula Henry helps winner Miss Brazil Larissa Ramos, 20, (left) put on her crown after winning the contest in Boracay resort, central Philippines.

EXCITING MOMENT: Miss Earth winner Miss Brazil Larissa Ramos, 20, a biology student.

MISS EARTH NEW ZEALAND: Catherine Irving was the fifth Manawatu resident in six years to represent the country in the event.

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Beauty with an environmental purpose was the theme at this weekend's Miss Earth competition.

More than 80 contestants from around the world vied for the title of Miss Earth, with topics such as pollution, recycling and land erosion, on the agenda as well as frolicking in bikinis on a Philippines beach.

Sunday's coronation, which was won by Miss Brazil Larissa Ramos, was held at an eco-village in Aklan province and featured New Zealand's Miss Earth winner Catherine Irving.

The runners-up took the titles of Miss 'Fire' 'Water' and 'Air' and they were Miss Alejandra Echevarria of Spain, 20, Miss Jessica Barboza of Venezuela and Miss Sandra Seifert of the Philippines.

While Miss Irving did not get a placement in the competition she was the fifth Manawatu resident to represent New Zealand in six years.

She told the Manawatu Standard in September that rather than it being "something in the water", she believed the high calibre of the Miss Manawatu pageant had helped girls from this region stand out from the crowd.

"They get good quality training here in Palmerston North."