GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA: For customer service executive Mishalini Subramaniam, it was first-time lucky when she bagged the DiGi Deepavali Sari Queen 2008 crown.

The ecstatic 21-year-old was crowned at a glittering event on Friday in the Little India heritage enclave in Lebuh Penang.

Public relations practitioner Prasena Gunalan, 25, was the first runner-up. She is no stranger to beauty pageants. She was Miss Olympia 2003 and a finalist in the Miss Cinefashion 2004 pageant.

Second runner-up was self-employed Maduri Morhan, 22. All three women received a trophy each and other prizes.

The event was jointly organised by DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd and the state government.

New Straits Times/Asia News Network