AUSTRALIANS have thrown their support behind a Tourism Queensland “dream job” candidate who has become embroiled in a porn scandal.

Tourism Queensland announced yesterday that it is investigating claims Russian Julia Yalovitsyna, a front-runner in their “best job in the world” campaign, worked as a model for an illegal porn studio and coached women for sexually explicit films.

When news of the scandal broke, news.com.au readers rallied behind Mrs Yalovitsyna, with most saying she should be allowed to stay in the competition.

Many readers said that she would be a good face for Tourism Queensland and that her looks would lure more people to the state.

However, not everyone is thrilled with the idea of Mrs Yalovitsyna, who has a degree in marine biology, winning the competition, with many arguing the position should be given to an Australian.

“Why are we not backing our fellow Aussies… Better than having some alleged porn queen get the job. She does not deserve it,” Janeen said.

Allegations against Mrs Yalovitsyna first arose in Russian newspapers, with revelations a case is being brought against her husband by Moscow police over allegedly spreading pornography.

Mrs Yalovitsyna’s computer was seized by police as part of the investigation and contained some of the materials included in the criminal case.

A spokesperson from Tourism Queensland said it was taking the matter seriously.

”We are taking the claims made in the media seriously and are currently investigating the matter. Tourism Queensland will decide on a course of action once we have accurate information.”

Mrs Yalovitsyna has rejected the claims and said she was never an online porn model.

“I am shocked! This is not true! I have nothing to do with that!” Mrs Yalovitsyna, 29, told Russian news website Pravda.

“There were photographs, but do they change anything? I am not 18 after all. Those images have never appeared on the internet and I have never worked as an online model,” she said.

Mrs Yalovitsyna is currently in second place, thanks to votes from the public, behind a woman from Taiwan.

Australians are rating poorly in the wild card section of the competition, where people vote for their favourite shortlisted applicants. The one with the most votes will carry on to the next stage of the competition.

Gold Coast entrant David Whitehill is the highest ranked Australian in the competition, currently at number 26.

Tourism Queensland’s “best job in the world” promotional campaign competition attracted more than 34,000 applicants.

The winner will be caretaker of the Great Barrier Reef for six months.