Russia's entrant for the Miss Earth 2012 beauty pageant has provoked outrage in her motherland by calling it "a beggar" and "my poor long-suffering country, mercilessly torn to pieces by greedy, dishonest, unbelieving people".

In a remarkable outburst, Natalia Pereverzeva said Russia was "a great artery, from which the 'chosen' few people are draining away its wealth".

Natalia Pereverzeva ... "It is an endless Caucasian war." Credit:Getty Images

The 24 year-old issued the attack in response to a standard question, asked of all Miss Earth contestants, about what made her proud of her country.

The annual international beauty contest, which emphasises environmental issues, is being held in the Philippines.