With her narrow eyes and long limbs, Kang Seung-hyun has become the first Asian to win the title of Ford Supermodel of the World in the contest's 25-year history.

She beat 50 other competitors from around the world to claim the title when the finals were held on Jan 16, 2008.

A university undergraduate from Korea's Dongduk Women's University modelling department, the 21-year-old told Korean daily Chosun Ilbo that she never thought she was pretty.

But the US media has praised her for her looks and her walk, and even called her the "pearl of the orient".

Kang has won US$250,000 cash and signed a three-year contract with Ford Models.

Another source reports that she is already scheduled to appear at the New York Collection in February and the Milan/Paris Collection in March.

"The prize money is a hefty sum so I'll pass it on to my parents," Kang told the Chosun Ilbo by phone.

"But I heard the deposit actually comes a year later."

The Korean model studied English very hard for three months. "I didn't want to be neglected as an Asian, so I always talked to other girls during the competition. I became really close with several of them. We cried after the finale."