The world is looking for beauty in China. The Miss Universe organization has announced in Beijing that they have officially begun the selection process to choose someone to represent China to compete in this year's event.

The president of the Miss Universe Organization, Paula Shugart, confirmed this year's edition of the beauty pageant is set to take place in July. And over the course of the next four months, any Chinese women aged between 18 to 27 are eligible to apply through the competition's online website.

Shugart told CCTV News the qualities they are looking for in a candidate.

Shugart said, "We are about self-image.We are about confidence. When someone's competing, there is' nothing more beautiful than someone who is self-confident and self-assured..I hope that young women realize they are capable of everything and they can break barriers."

China's Zhang Zilin was crowned Miss World in 2007, becoming the first woman of Aast Asian origin to win the title. But so far, no Chinese woman has claimed the honor of becoming Miss Universe.

Chinese-American media personality Yue Sai-Kan has been named director of the event's China Competition. She believes Chinese women have the brains, beauty and style to be world class winners.

Yue said, "This is a chance for us to show off Chinese women.It's a chance for us to celebrate Chinese women. We hope to come up with one woman to represent the best of us Chinese."

It's a view shared by the reigning Miss Universe, Ximena Navarette of Mexico. She says Asian women, Chinese in particular, have unique charms.

Ximena said, "It's the elegance. The way that the Chinese girls are. Just very elegant, fashionable ,in a good mood."

The winner of the China leg of the Miss Universe competition will represent the country to compete in the main pageant, to be held in September in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Should she prove successful, she will be employed full time by Miss Universe Organization based in New York city and become a citizen's ambassador for China.