India's Shilpa Singh enters top 16 at Miss Universe 2012

Shilpa Singh, India's official contestant at the Miss Universe 2012, has entered the top 16 at the international beauty pageant.

Shilpa from Bihar is a Computer Science graduate. The ravishing beauty is currently an Infosys Technologies' employee.

But she wasn't India's original contestant as Uttarakhand's Urvashi Rautela, the original winner of the "I Am She" title, had to withdraw because she was found to have been 25 days below the minimum age limit of 18 years.

As many as 89 beauty queens from around the world descended on Las Vegas Wednesday night to compete for the title of Miss Universe.

Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola will crown her successor at the event taking place at Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

The panel of 10 judges includes singer Cee Lo Green, Pablo Sandoval of the World Series champion Giants, "Iron Chef" star Masaharu Morimoto, and US Olympic beach volleyball gold medallist Kerri Walsh Jennings. - IANS