Sydney, July 12 : The girl who appeared to have caught the eye of US President Barack Obama and that of his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy at the G-8 summit in Italy has been identified as a 17-year-old social activist.

Mayora Tavares shot to fame overnight after a photograph depicting Obama seemingly looking at her bottom while Sarkozy also appeared to be taking in the view was published on news websites across the globe.

The Brazilian woman, a Rio de Janeiro resident, was reportedly selected to participate in the Junior G8 summit after working on a human rights study in two notorious Rio towns, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

In an interview with Brazilian television this month, she dubbed travelling to the G8 as an "inexplicable feeling".

The photograph evoked many smirks and comments around the world.

One comment on a website said: "This young lady must be phenomenally beautiful. After all, even Sarkozy had to hang on to his jaw." (ANI)