MALACCA, MALAYSIA: Miss Asia World 2008, Tanya Bhattacharjee bumped into her high school teacher, whom she had lost contact with, at a workshop held at the Malacca Straits Hotel here on Friday night.

The beauty queen was a guest of honour at the closing ceremony of the World Youth Foundation's International Training Workshop on Disaster Risk and Environmental Management.

By coincidence, Claire O' Boyle was one of the trainers at the four-day workshop, which had 80 participants from 22 countries between the ages of 18 to 30.

O'Boyle had taught Bhattacharjee at El Thorne Park High School, West London, when Bhattacharjee was 11.

"It is amazing to see someone who reminded me of home, especially since this is my first time away from my family," said Bhattacharjee.

O'Boyle who is a tutor and project manager at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Melbourne, said she was happy that the quiet and demure Bhattacharjee had blossomed into a poised and approachable role-model.

The psychology student is also the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) ambassador. WAY is an international coordinating body of national youth councils and organisations.

"I'm pleased she is studying psychology as it complements her role as a youth ambassador," said O' Boyle.

As a youth ambassador, the historical city of Malacca was the last stop on Bhattacharjee's tour through Malaysia. Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur were the other cities she visited.

Also present at the closing ceremony was state Welfare, Unity, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Capt (R) Abdul Karim Sulaiman.