BERLIN, Nov 1, 2007 (AFP) - A Bulgarian woman and a Romanian man have the world's best-looking bottoms, according to the jury of a backside beauty contest sponsored by Sloggi, a lingerie firm, a company spokeswoman said Thursday, November 1st.

Kristina Dimitrova's bottom - Photo : Joerg Koch/AFP

Beyond a 10,000-euro (14,400-dollar) cash prize, Kristina Dimitrova, 19, and 24-year-old Andrei Andrei each won a modelling contract for the company's next international advertising campaign as well as a year-long insurance policy for their rear ends in case of injury.

Some 15,000 people from 29 countries responded to a call by the European company Triumph to post photos of their backsides on the Internet three months ago.

The site drew more than five million visitors, of whom 130,000 registered to pick their 10 favourite male and female bottoms from each country.

A total of 45 men and women qualified for the final contest in Munich before a seven-member jury including representatives from the fashion and fitness industries.