A girl from Karelia in northern Russia is among the leaders in an internet poll launched by Tourism Queensland. The winner will have a chance to grab the job dubbed ‘best in the world’.

As of Wednesday morning, Julia was second among the 50 candidates chosen for the shortlist.

Contest organisers will choose 10 people from the list to be interviewed for the position of caretaker of Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef. The winner of the internet poll will receive a wild card for the interview.

In a video posted on the contest website, Julia, whose last name is not revealed, says she likes travelling, has a degree in marine biology and has worked as a scientist in Russia’s north and can speak four languages. She’s also a teetotaller and does not smoke, which apparently helps her keep fit.

According to Russian media, Julia surged to the top of the short list on Tuesday and was in the first place for some time. She later lost the lead to Clair from Taiwan.

The contest was launched in January 2009. Tourism Queensland received more than 34,000 applications for the job including one sent by an Osama bin Laden double. The winner will be announced in May.