Canberra's own Miss Australia Sophie Lavers is in South Africa counting down the minutes until the finale in Johannesburg when Miss World will be selected from 112 contestants.

It is the culmination of a month of competition in South Africa, with the women already put through the talent and beauty hoops, as well as enjoying some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities such meeting President Jacob Zuma and going on safari.

''I think each day while I've been over here, I've felt every emotion,'' Ms Lavers said yesterday.

''I'm loving it. But getting to the end, girls are just tired, girls start gossiping and I've just stuck with the girls who are nice and a bit more mature.''

Ms Lavers has been rooming with Miss Canada and is good mates with Miss Denmark, although the Copenhagen climate change talks have not been high on their agenda.

''Being here, it's not reality. You're in a little world all of its own,'' she said.

The highlight had been dancing with the students at a girls' school in Durban.

''We've been to some amazing places. I feel really lucky,'' she said.

Growing up in Curtin where her mum, local GP Elizabeth Pickup, still lives, Ms Lavers, 24, has performed well in the lead-up competitions. She finished fourth from the 112 contestants in the talent section, in the top 10 for the sporting section and in the top 44 for the beauty section.

However, bookies have Miss Puerto Rico Jennifer Alvarado as favourite to win, followed by Miss Mexico Perla Beltran.

Ms Lavers said she just hoped ''someone who can do the job well'' won.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times