Sydney student third in Miss World

A 23-YEAR-old Australian who speaks four languages has missed out on the coveted Miss World crown by a narrow margin.

Sydney law student Jessica Kahawaty came in third against a field of more than 100 other beauty contestants from around the globe.

Miss Australia, Kahawaty speaks English, French, Japanese and Arabic.

Miss Kahawaty said she believed every person was a "diamond in the rough" in her online statement for the contest.

In second place was Miss Wales, 19-year-old Sophie Moulds, while the coveted crown went to Miss China, 23-year-old Yu Wenxia.