Tao will fly to Thailand on May 10 to receive further training before she appears, representing China, at the 2005 Miss Universe beauty pageant to be held on May 31 in Bangkok, said Qin Zhen, president of MUCO, at a press conference.

The 172-cm-tall Tao, 21, who is from southwestern China's Sichuan Province, beat 49 competitors last Saturday in Kunming, capital of southwestern China's Yunnan Province, according to MUCO

"Traditionally, Chinese women are described as dignity and elegance incarnate and I want to show the world another side of Chinese women -- modern and stylish," Tao said.

Launched in 1951, Miss Universe is one of the three major international beauty contests, along with Miss World and Miss International. The contest organizing committee chooses a different country or region each year to host the pageant.

The event is designed "to help women from all parts of the world realize their goals and cultivate their individuality," and it has been held for past consecutive 53 years with participants from more than 150 countries and regions, according to the New York-based Miss Universe Organization.

China officially hosted a nationwide contest for Miss Universe for the first time in 2003. Wu Wei from south China's Fujian Province, and Zhang Meng from Beijing, won the title in 2003 and 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2005)