'I forgive them!' Miss World Australia Esma Voloder hits back at racist critics who vilified her for being Muslim following her beauty pageant

By Erin Doyle For Daily Mail Australia

PUBLISHED: 16:41 BST, 20 July 2017 

She's the criminal profiler from Melbourne who was crowned Miss World Australia 2017 last week.

But following her win, Esma Voloder was heavily criticised for winning the pageant because she is a practising Muslim.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph on Friday, the 25-year-old hit back at her detractors with an impressively graceful response.

'I forgive them': Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Friday, Miss World Australia Esma Voloder hit back at her detractors, who criticised her for being Muslim, with a graceful response

'I forgive them ... I feel it comes from a lack of understanding,' the beauty queen told Sydney Confidential.

She added: 'I am hoping to break down the barriers by just being me.'

After Esma won the prestigious event, the organisation was inundated with calls demanding the Muslim woman be replaced with another contestant.

However, after she was crowned this year's winner, Esma called for understanding and more tolerance of her religion.

'I feel it comes from a lack of understanding': Critics demanded Miss World Australia organisers replace her with a new winner but Esma is taking it all in her stride

Breaking down stereotypes! The beauty queen is hoping to use her title to help eradicate the intolerance surrounding her religion

The brunette beauty, who escaped a refugee camp with her family in the midst of the Bosnian war more than two decades ago, wants to use her title to help break down the misconceptions that surround her religion.

'The Islam that I know, that is in the Koran, I don't associate that with any acts that are occurring around the world,' she said after taking the crown.

'People tend to blame religion for the atrocities that are happening, but if we do that we take responsibility away from the individuals.'

'People tend to blame religion for the atrocities': The brunette beauty is urging people to put the responsibility on individuals rather than an entire religion

Earlier this week, Esma took to Instagram to gush about her victory.

'My heart is full. Gratitude and joy overtook me last night as I was crowned Miss World Australia,' she wrote alongside an image of herself at the event.

'Last night re-affirmed that dreams really can become realities. We have all heard this and some of us have been fortunate to not only think it, but truly know it.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4714954/Miss-World-Australia-Esma-Voloder-hits-critics.html