Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola won Miss Muslimah World contest

A Nigerian woman has been crowned Muslim Miss World in the final of a beauty pageant organised by a women's group in direct response to the mainstream Miss World competition taking place in Indonesia.

Miss Nigeria, Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola, 21, won the Miss Muslimah World contest which was organised by the World Muslimah Foundation, a Muslim women's group, and held in Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta as a protest to the traditional contest being held in Bali this month.

The annual Muslim event - now in its third year - is held exclusively for Muslim women, who are assessed not only their appearance (in Islamic dress) but also their piety, religious knowledge and understanding of the Koran.

Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola Has Been Crowned Miss World Muslimah 2013

Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola was awarded the accolade at the third annual event in Jakarta,Indonesia.

"We're just trying to show the world that Islam is beautiful," the 21-year-old told Agence France-Press on Wednesday.

"It was not really about competition," she added.

Ajibola, who wept and dropped to her knees while reciting verses from the Quran, was awarded with prize money of £1,365 and trips to Mecca and India.

The annual pageant, held exclusively for Muslim women, assesses not only the appearance of contestants, but also their piety and religious knowledge.

The contest saw participants from 20 countries take part, including Bangladesh, Malaysia, Brunei and Iran.

A single U.S finalist - Ainee Fatima from Chicago - withdrew from the competition on 13 September, citing her father's ill health.

The pageant was held ahead the upcoming Miss World competition, which has drawn protests from hardline Indonesian Muslim groups.

It final had been due to be held in a venue near Jakarta, but will now take place in Bali.