In a unique show of class and confidence characteristic of her recent coronation as Miss World Australia 2017, Esma Voloder responded to trolls who verbally attacked her because of her Muslim beliefs.

The hurtful messages came from several callers since Voloder was crowned to represent Australia in the Miss World competition last Friday. Voloder responded to these trolls by saying "Life is too short for negativity." She also adds:

"I forgive them ... I feel it comes from a lack of understanding, I am hoping to break down the barriers by just being me."

An Independent report traces Voloder's roots to a Bosnian war refugee camp. She shared in a television interview that her parent's experience as refugees made her grateful for the opportunity that her parents didn't get. She works as a criminal profiler in the city of Melbourne.

Australia's Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, wrote about the stance of the event organisers. Since Voloder's victory, the Miss World Australia organisation had received many "awful and mean" calls demanding she is replaced.

The report quotes one such caller who said: "How did you let a Muslim win?". The organisation responded: "We believe Esma is a strong woman and represents a multicultural Australia," Deborah Miller - the national director of Miss World Australia - said.

Source: Khaleej Times