Bangladeshi wins America's Junior Miss contest

Nora Ali, daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants to the United States, has been crowned America's Junior Miss 2007. Nora, 17, won the final competition, held in Alabama Saturday, by bagging prize money of more than $60,000, The Daily Star said Wednesday, quoting website wcco.com.

"I just want to start a business and maybe even start a bio-medical company with my elder sister who does stem cell research. So I'm open to all possibilities," Nora told the media.

Nora, an accomplished pianist, is the second winner from Minnesota in the 50-year history of the Junior Miss contest.

Nora's parents, Zaki Ali and Mahfuza Ali, emigrated from Bangladesh in 1977. They both earned their Ph.Ds in chemistry and got jobs with 3M.

"We are very lucky. God blessed us with amazingly intelligent, talented children," Mahfuza said.

Indo-Asian News Service