07 October,2011 01:20 PM IST | | Agencies
Some of the 69 contestants in this week's Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant here doffed evening wear in favour of their respective national team colours for a friendly soccer match.
The game was another in a series of activities that have kept the pageant hopefuls busy since they arrived in this eastern Spanish city two weeks ago to prepare for Friday's gala.
Though free of goals or penalties, the encounter was not lacking in enthusiasm and the match drew a substantial crowd to a plaza in Orihuela's historic district.
The Spanish contestant, Gloria Martinez, spoke to EFE after the game.
"My fellow contestants have enjoyed a lot of Spain and have discovered a little bit of our culture and our cuisine," she said, describing the pageant experience as "wonderful".
Founded four decades ago, the Miss Intercontinental contest ranks third among international beauty pageants, behind the Miss Universe and Miss World competitions.
This year marks the first time the Miss Intercontinental pageant has been held in Spain.
