Eight Miss Universe contestants visited Bukit Batok Secondary School on Friday to support a charity initiative which helps raise funds for students from low-income families.

Students from the school contributed over $1,000 to the fund, called Share-A-Meal, this year. And they were treated to a visit by the beauty queens from Singapore, Malaysia, Belgium, Spain, Britain, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands.

The women are here as part of the Formula One Singtel Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, and wanted to share their experience with charity work.

Miss Universe Singapore Shi Lim, 25, recounted her work with foster children from a minority tribe in Yunnan, China: "Over there, food was scarce and very precious, but when we were there, they served us their best meat while they ate only vegetables in a separate room.

"In a way, I was being helped myself... I was taught to appreciate the value of things."

The students were thrilled by the visit.

Said Secondary 2 student Saranya Ramesh: "In the past I thought beauty queens were arrogant, and join pageants for fame, but after speaking to them, I realised they are passionate about doing charity work."