The Miss UT International Competition returns to campus this year. Featuring 35 contestants representing all continents except Australia, the competition will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on March 31 in the Vaughn Plaza.-

Replacing the postponed internation festival will be “Cultural Beats and Eats,” a program featuring catered food from Tampa’s ethnic restaurants including La Teresita, Byblos, Shalimar and Oasis. The food and dancing will begin at 9 p.m. after the competition.

The International Competition is “to appreciate, recognize and foster cultural diversity on campus and in the Tampa Bay community” said Lillian Chor, Miss UT International 2005. “It’s not a pageant. It’s more about finding a girl who has the confidence and desire to speak in public and spread the word about cultural diversity.”