Miss Earth 2013: Sobhita Dhulipala to Represent India

The 13^th edition of the Miss Earth beauty pageant is all set to kick off this December with 90 contestants from different countries competing for the title.

The Miss Earth 2013 pageant will take place at the Versailles Palace in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines. The current title holder Tereza Fajksová from Czech Republic will crown this year's winner during the finale on 7 December.

Sobhita Dhulipala, winner of Miss India Earth 2013, will represent India at the global platform. She was the first runner-up at the Femina Miss India 2013 beauty contest.

"Miss Earth to me, means a lot more than an international beauty pageant. It implies a larger than life celebration of spirit, beauty, passion and betterment," Sobhita said, according to The Times of India.

The Miss Earth beauty pageant was launched in 2001 by Carousel Productions, Inc. with the aim to promote environment and the protection of Mother Earth.

The contest also aims to promote and showcase various tourist destinations. The 13^th edition is lined up with "The International Year of Water Cooperation."

Every year, around 80 to 90 candidates from different countries participate in the contest to compete on beauty as well as on knowledge of environmental issues.

"The Miss Earth Team will continually call for the cooperation of private organizations and governments to make our environmental efforts sustainable. The environment we live in will reflect on the kind of life we have," Lorraine Schuck, the organizer of Miss Earth said.

The winner will serve as the Ambassador to environmental protection campaigns worldwide, according to the official website.

Here is the initial schedule of the Miss Earth 2013 competition:

November 14-17: Contestants Arrive in Philippines

December 3-5 Rehearsals

December 6: Final Rehearsals

December 7: Grand Finale Night

December 8-9: Departures