Miss Elodie Marie Charlie DELOR - Miss Martinique


Name
Miss Elodie Marie Charlie DELOR

Country

Martinique

Place of birth

Martinique

About Her

Elodie grew up on the paradise island of Martinique where everyone enjoys life and helps each other. Having just taken her Baccalaureate, Elodie`s ambition is to continue her studies in foreign countries to obtain international experience, and then go on to create her own communication agency. Hobbies/sporting interests include: gymnastics; dance; tennis; swimming; acrobatic dance; modern, jazz, funk & fun dance: listening to pop, reggae, and dance hall music; favourite food is chicken Colombo and plantain gratin. Elodie`s motto is `You are the only one to decide on your life`.

Miss Mari VASILEIOU - Miss Cyprus


Name
Miss Mari VASILEIOU

Country

Cyprus

Place of birth

Cyprus

About Her

My name is Mari Vasileiou. I grew up in Larnaca, located in the southeast of the island, it has good weather, good food, beautiful beaches and friendly people. I am a student, and help part time in my mother`s beauty salon, which I finds both interesting and a little unusual. My ambition is to become an international model. Proudest moment was winning a dance competition at school. Leisure interests include: listening to R&B and hip hop, reading romantic stories, dance, attending fashion shows. Favourite food is pasta. My motto is `Never make the same mistake twice`.

Miss Frederika Keira CHARPENTIER - Miss Guadeloupe


Name
Miss Frederika Keira CHARPENTIER

Country

Guadeloupe

Place of birth

Guadeloupe

About Her

Federika was born in France, moved to Martinique, and finally settled in Guadeloupe. She studied Nautical Navigation and graduated as a Merchant Marine Captain and is currently working on the sailing boats. Sporting and leisure interests are: Sailing; underwater swimming; travel; drawing; reading; fashion; and listening to Jazz, blues and classical music. Favourite food is seafood. Her motto is `Persist to acquire`.

Miss Tamar ZISKIND - Miss Israel


Name
Miss Tamar ZISKIND

Country

Israel

Place of birth

Israel

About Her

Tamar was born and grew up in Haifa, located on the Carmel Mountains in the north of Israel. Celebrating it`s 60th anniversary, Israel is a small modern country with an ancient history and is both geographically and climatically diverse, with snow capped mountains in the North and arid deserts in the South. Having passed the psychometric course with high grades she is now preparing for her university studies in Jerusalem in the Medical Faculty. Meantime Tamar is working as a guide in preparation for a psychometric course, her ambition is to become a Doctor. Sports and Leisure interests are: Travel; all extreme sports such as wind surfing, skiing, jet skiing; rock music; piano (which she has been playing since she was 8 years old); science fiction books; and her favourite food is steak.

Miss Gabrielle WALCOTT - Miss Trinidad and Tobago


Name
Miss Gabrielle WALCOTT

Country

Trinidad and Tobago

Place of birth

Trinidad and Tobago

About Her

Gabrielle comes from the Caribbean island of Trinidad, with its amazing turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, colourful tropical flowers and exotic birds. Her dream is to become an actress; she has always loved the arts and has her first degree in Visual and Theatre Arts from the University of the West Indies. After achieving this she took a gap year to help finance her move to the Big Apple, she then moved to New York to do post graduate studies in Acting and Theatre Arts, a friend and mentor once told her that `the first degree is for your parents and the second degree for yourself`, she is very proud to have been able to support herself and follow her heart!Gabrielle is currently also one of Trinidad & Tobago`s Youth Ambassadors for the UN. Sports & leisure interests include: equestrian show jumping; yoga; pilates; dance; fashion design/sewing; art; photography; theatre; piano; ballroom & Latin dance; swimming; First Aid (CPR/Life guard training); and has just starting to learn Spanish. She has a deep appreciation for Trinidad`s local cuisine: from roti, to shark and bake, to crab and dumplings, to name a few. Her motto is `Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you`.

Miss Wincci SOO - Miss Malaysia


Name
Miss Wincci SOO

Country

Malaysia

Place of birth

Malaysia

About Her

Wincci grew up in Malaysia, a multi cultural and multi racial country, with many famous tourist attractions. She took her Law degree at the University of Reading in the UK and is now studying for her Masters, her ambition is to be a successful lawyer. Leisure interests include: badminton; swimming; playing piano & keyboard; composing songs; learning new languages; listening to: jazz, pop & blues music; reading her law books. She enjoys the Western, Japanese and Malaysian cuisines. Wincci`s motto is `Try my very best and never give up`.

Miss Brigite Santos - Miss Angola


Name
Miss Brigite Santos

Country

Angola

Place of birth

Angola

About Her

My name is Brigite Santos. I was born in Angola`s capital Luanda, and am the youngest in my family with eight brothers. Having just finished High School, I am now a student with an ambition to qualify as a Petroleum Engineer. Hobbies and leisure interests are: travelling; swimming; music (especially listening to jazz for relaxing times); favourite food is grilled fish and salad. My proudest moment was passing my driving test just as I turned 18 years old. My personal motto is `Life is too short, so enjoy every moment`.

Miss Charmaine CHINAPEN - Miss Belize


Name
Miss Charmaine CHINAPEN

Country

Belize

Place of birth

Belize

About Her

My name is Charmaine Chinapen. I moved with my family to Belize at the age of 9, and spent my formative years exploring the beautiful Maya ruins and famed barrier reef. Currently I am about to start my final semester at St John�s University in New York, after which I will earn a bachelor`s degree with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Philosophy of Physical Sciences, My ambition is to dedicate myself to becoming a neurosurgeon and work through `Doctors Without Borders`. I am also employed as a General, organic & biological Chemistry Tutor. Sporting interests are; rock climbing; swimming; track & field; hiking; cycling. In Belize I fell in love with performing arts and all its elements: From singing; song writing; to playing piano; dancing; acting; etc., this has allowed me to express my own creative voice; and inspired me to write short stories. Stuffed clams, lobsters, and crab cakes are my favourite sea foods. I have tons of patience, because it takes a lot of that to read Physical Chemistry Quantum Mechanics books!

Miss Nasreen, Karim ABDALLAH - Miss Tanzania


Name
Miss Nasreen, Karim ABDALLAH

Country

Tanzania

Place of birth

Tanzania

About Her

Nasreen grew up in Mwanza, a city rich in minerals and tourist attractions, such as the: Bismarck Rock, Saa Nane Island surrounded by the largest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria. Tanzania is the source of the Nile River: site of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa: and the 8th wonder of the world `the Ngorongoro Crater`; it also has a large concentration of wildlife in its many Game Reserves. Nasreen is pursuing a Bachelor of Art in International Relations; her ambition is to work with a Charity Organisation. Hobbies/Sports interests include: basketball; travelling; reading; singing and listening to R&B, rock, country, gospel and local music; cooking. Favourite dishes are: Fish and Plilu with green vegetables, and Matoke (made of bananas). Nasreen`s motto is `Think big, Dream big, and Achieve big`.

Miss Tiffany Sibongakonkhe SIMELANE - Swaziland


Name
Miss Tiffany Sibongakonkhe SIMELANE

Country

Swaziland

Place of birth

Swaziland

About Her

Tiffany was raised by her grandparents in a small village called Mhlambanyatsi, and later spent a year in Pretoria to take her South African Matriculation. Swaziland is a land-locked country which boasts of exquisite evergreen scenery and rarely experiences extreme weather conditions. Tiffany is currently working as a fieldworker/data collector for a Non Governmental Organisation which deals with communicating health messages, but aims to work hard to continue studying and increase her educational knowledge. Leisure interests are: Netball; aerobics; hiking; reading; singing; listening to gospel, R&B, & Soul music; reading. When it comes to food, she enjoys sea foods and Chinese dishes. Personal motto is a quote by Mahatma Ghandi `Be the change you want to see in the world`.

Miss Ivonne ORSINI L0PEZ - Miss Puerto Rico


Name
Miss Ivonne ORSINI L0PEZ

Country

Puerto Rico

Place of birth

Puerto Rico

About Her

Ivonne was born and grew up in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, a tropical island in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico is the ideal place to enjoy good Latin music and food, rich in culture and history it is recognised as `The Island of Enchantment`. She is a university student with career ambitions to develop in the communications field and to break with the paradigms in this field, for example, in sports. She also hopes to become an actress. So far she has participated in a soap opera series called `Decisiones`. A special day in her life was on her 18th birthday, she was involved with the track and field team and won medals for all her events, thanks to this she has had many offers and scholarships for college. Interests are: Dance: salsa, meringue, bamba and bachata: acting, track & field, volleyball, basketball, badminton, swimming, painting, rhetoric, reading and all kinds of music. Favourite food is pizza and Puerto Rican food.

Miss Rochelle Adriana COREA - Miss Srilanka


Name
Miss Rochelle Adriana COREA

Country

Sri Lanka

Place of birth

Sri Lanka

About Her

Rochelle grew up in Colombo on the beautiful island paradise Sri Lanka, also known as the `Pearl of the Indian Ocean`. She completed her education at A Level and is now an Airline Executive. Her ambition is to pursue a career in beauty & health with the view to opening her own salon and spa. Rochelle`s interests are: spending quality time with her friends; travelling; athletics; reading; listening and dancing to R&B and hip hop; and has a special talent for creative make-up. Favourite food is steak. Her motto is `To develop herself and share the knowledge gained with others`.

Miss Lisa LENTS - Miss Denmark


Name
Miss Lisa LENTS

Country

Denmark

Place of birth

Denmark

About Her

My name is Lisa Lents. I was born in Belarus and grew up in Denmark. I live in the beautiful city of Copenhagen, which in 2008 ranked `the most liveable city to live in the world`, it also received an award as `Best Design City`. Lisa is currently for her Media Management degree; her ambition is to become a Journalist. Her proudest moment was winning the Junior World Championship in Taekwondo, she is now preparing for the next World Championships which will take place in December, in Turkey. Sports & leisure interests include: Martial Arts; tennis; billiards; football; basketball; fishing; painting; travelling; playing guitar; listening to all types of music from hip hop to country: reading; experimenting with new kinds of foods, but her favourite is Korean. Lisa`s motto is `Anything is possible when you believe in it`.

Miss Patricia Yurena RODRIGUEZ ALONJO - Miss Spain


Name
Miss Patricia Yurena RODRIGUEZ ALONJO

Country

Spain

Place of birth

Spain

About Her

Patricia grew up on the small island of Tenerife, in the Canaries. She is presently living in the capital, Madrid, a city full of history and beautiful buildings, where she is combining her studies with modelling, and fulfilling her role as Miss Spain. Her ambition is to combine her modelling with a business career in the fashion world. Sporting and leisure interests are: volleyball; reading; travelling; listening to music; playing the guitar; and dancing (although she has never taken any classes). Favourite food is pasta, but she also has a sweet tooth and loves ice creams! Her motto is `All that you work for today, will be for your good tomorrow`

Miss Lene Egeli - Miss Norway


Name
Miss Lene EGELI

Country

Norway

Place of birth

Norway

Favorite Movie

The History of David Gale

Favorite Music Artist

3 Doors Down

Favorite hobbies

Sporting and leisure interests include: athletics; skiing, shopping; travelling; reading (favourite book is ‘The diary of Anne Frank’); listening to different kinds of music;

About Her

Lene grew up in Stavanger, the petroleum capital and 4th largest city in Norway, it is also the European Capital of Culture for 2008. Having completed her high school education, Lene is now combining her work as a model, with assisting as a substitute teacher and after-school program`s assistant, her ambition is to further her education to enable her to become a Teacher or a Psychologist. she has a love of international food, especially the Mexican, Thai & Indian cuisine. Lene`s motto is `Treat others as you would like to be treated`.

Some things you didn\\\'t know

If you were stranded on a desert island what one item could you not be without?

- My ipod with all my favourite songs. Music is an important part of my life.

Who do you admire most in the world?

- Without doubt my grandmother, Sally. She is one of a kind. With all her wisdom, kindness and generosity, she always inspires me.

What is the craziest thing you have ever done?

- That must be one of the photoshoots that I participated in. I had to pose with a snake around my neck. It was a terrifying moment. Regardless of how scared I was, I took the challenge.

In your mind, what is your greatest achievement?

- I am proud of my good grades that I achieved in school. I believe in hard work. Then you will gain results. I also have to mention the Miss Norway-title as one of my greatest achievements. I am honoured to represent Norway in Miss World.

If you could travel back in time when and where would you travel?

- I would like to travel back to the Viking Age, which forms a major part of the medieval history of Scandinavia, the British Isles and Europe in general. A Viking is one of the Norse Scandinavian explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the late eighth to the early eleventh century. I have learned much about this period in school. Therefore it would be great to actually experiencing it.

What is your favourite movie?

- I love to watch movies and especially those who have a clear message. If I have to pick one, I would choose the History of David Gayle.

Who is your favourite band?

- 3 Doors Down.

Tell us about your life?

- Family and friends means everything to me, and I spend a lot of time with them. Most days I have a tight schedule. I work as a substitute teacher, After School Assistant and as a model. These jobs give me so much in return. I like to exercise and think it is important to be in good shape. I also love to sit down and watch a good movie.

Miss Ana Maribel ARANA RUIZ - Miss Guatemala


Name
Miss Ana Maribel ARANA RUIZ

Country

Guatemala

Place of birth

Guatemala

About Her

Ana grew up with her family in Guatemala City. She has completed her third semester of telecommunications at Galileo`s University and by studying hard, hopes to become a Professional in Communications. Ana has also opened her own Beauty Salon for which she does all the administration. Sports & leisure interests are: extreme sports (she loves the adrenaline); tennis; gym; travelling: reading; listening to pop and romantic music; Latin dances; the movies and reciting poems. She likes all vegetarian food. Personal motto is: `Live and let live, laugh and let laugh, dream and let dreams`.

Miss World 2008 is Kseniya SUKHINOVA - RUSSIA



Name
Miss Kseniya SUKHINOVA


Country
Russia

Place of birth
Russia

Favorite Music Artist
ABBA

About Her
Kseniya lives with her parents in the Tyumen region, which is situated in the north west of Siberia. She is currently studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineer of Administration, her ambition is also to become a Supermodel. Her leisure and sporting interests are: swimming; mountain skiing; roller skating; badminton; gym; rhythm gymnastics; pop & dance music; reading Russian classic literature; favourite food is: Japanese and Italian. Kseniya`s personal motto is: `Respect people around you, and people will respect you`.


Q&A with Russia

1.If you were stranded on a desert island what one item could you not be without?

Matchbox, hardly one can survive without fire.

2.Who do you admire most in the world?

Ole Einar Bjorndalen – famous biathlonist, (Olympic champion, world champion, world cup owner e.t.c) I admire him, he is so motivated to develop his carrier in sports.

3.What is the craziest thing you have ever done?

It was a 1 mile swim race when I was 12 years old during one sport competition. I was swimming in an open sea without my coaches looking after me. It was terrifying and cold.

4. In your mind, what is your greatest achievement?

I think I’d stress my achievements in sports and last year I became the most beautiful girl in Russia “Miss Russia” but I feel power to achieve more.

5.If you could travel back in time when and where would you travel?

I’d go to France to a time of musketeers. There were so many passion, romantics, honor and bravery at that time.

6.What is your favourite movie?

It’s a Russian movie “Moscow doesn’t believe in tears”: it’s a kind and sentimental film that has an Oscar award.

7.Who is your favourite band?

Depends on my mood, when I am sad I like to listen to “Sting” when I feel like dancing – some house music.

8.Tell us about your life?
I was born in a little town of northern Russia (Siberia) called Nijnevartovsk. Since my childhood I was very sporty girl. When I was 5 years old my mom took me to gymnastics lessons and finally I had a first professional grade in that. Unfortunately due to the trauma I had to stop my carreer in sport. I also tried swimming and ballet. Then at the age of 13 I started practicing biathlon and showed very good results in this. But I gave up sport carrier as I decided to enter the University. Now I study in the Tyumen Oil and Gas University. I have an institute award “Outstanding Student 2006”. Talking about my hobbies: I like to travel a lot, try to spend more time with my parents, friends and a lovely cat.
My motto is: “To move forward no matter what happens”

Russia is crowned Miss World The eyes of the world were on one stage when Kseniya Sukhinovia from Russia was crowned Miss World in a glittering, star-studded ceremony at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, the City of Gold.

The 2008 Miss World Festival, a record breaking year in the number of contestants taking part, has seen 109 beautiful and talented contestants spend an unforgettable month in South Africa. However, there could only be one winner and the applause rang out in the packed Convention Centre as Julia Morley, Chairman of the Miss World Organisation and of the international panel of judges, announced the winner's name. Kseniya Sukhoinova smile spoke a thousand words to a worldwide TV audience of over 2 billion as she was crowned by last year`s Miss World, Zilin Zhang. First runner-up was Trinidad and Tobago followed by India as second runner-up. The other two finalists were South Africa and Angola.

The Final opened with 14 minutes of African music and dance and the contestants walking on to stage wearing their dresses designed by African Fashion. The opening sequence ended with local schoolchildren carrying all of the representative countries` flags onto the stage.

The TV spectacular was hosted by top Chinese TV presenter Angela Chow, presenting Miss World for the sixth year in succession, alongside co-host South African celebrity, Tumisho Masha, making his Miss World Final debut.

The show told the story of the contestants` stay in South Africa, with video clips of their activities and sightseeing, including their exciting trip to Safari, Mpulanga and the dazzling Indian Ocean and white beaches of Durban. With an amazing stage and lighting and performances from international record-breaking band McFly, singing `Smile` and `Lies`, a mid tempo rocker and UK pop sensation Alisha Dixon singing her latest single `The boy does nothing`, the 58th Miss World Final was one of the most spectacular to date. Miss World - The Final is the World's largest live annual TV event with global viewing figures topping two billion. This year the 58th Final was broadcast in 187 countries and 373 TV stations.

Miss World 2007 - Zhang Zilin - China



Zi Lin was born in Shijiazhuang City, Hei Bei Province, then moved to Beijing. She attended the University of Science & Technology and attained a Degree in Business Administration, according to the Miss World offical site.

Her hobbies and sporting interests include: travel, reading, watching movies, writing, 100-meter hurdle, triple jump, swimming, classical and folk dancing, and listing to folk music. Her favourite food is fruit, chocolate, and ice cream.

Miss China PR Zi Lin Zhang waves to crowd after she won the title of Miss World 2007 at the 57th Miss World final contest at the Beauty Crown Theatre on December 1, 2007 in Sanya of Hainan province, China.

Miss World 2006 - Tatana Kucharova - Czech Republic



Tatana Kucharova, the Czech Republic's first winner of the Miss World title, was born in 1988 in the small countryside town of Trnava. She spent her teen years in Opocno, a small but culturally important town 150 km east of Prague. Opocno, known for its splendid Renaissance castle, is where she mother, step father and two younger sisters still live and it is there where she phoned immediately after she won the crown in Warsaw in 2006. In a conversation charged with an emotional mix of tears and laughter, she shared her wonderful news before calling her father at his home in Slovakia.

On her return home after winning the Miss World contest, thousands of well-wishers braved the autumnal chill to gather in the capital's main square. Tatana was greeted with cheers and applause as she arrived at an official welcoming reception hosted by the President of Prague, which was followed by a private reception with Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek at his stunning official hilltop residence, the historic Kramarova Villa. Now living in Prague with her ginger cat Garfield, Tatana is studying history and languages (English and Spanish) and enjoys the best that this vibrant European city can offer - culture, the arts, nightlife and dining all feature highly on her agenda. But whenever possible, she likes to return to her family in Opocno and its mini menagerie of cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, a bird and a turtle.

With the full support of the Miss World Organisation, Tatana plans to continue her studies and attend university, majoring in history. She also wants to progress her modelling career - she has already been a star of the catwalks in Europe and Japan and has had a number of assignments as a photographic model. Modelling, she has fast discovered, opens many doors, and allows the opportunity for extensive travel. As Miss World 2006, Tatana visited many countries and familiarised herself with different cultures, an experience, she believes, that will one day help her to be a good parent.

Between studying, travelling, modelling and family life, Tatana still finds time for her favourite sports - she is a keen tennis and volleyball player and enjoys horse riding and ice skating. Add to that her passion for music and dance and you can see how her diary is action-packed.

Miss World 2005 - Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir - Miss Iceland



Miss Iceland, Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir, was crowned Miss World 2005 in front of a sell-out audience at the Crown Theatre, Sanya, China. The 21-year-old law student from Reykavik, who had also taken first place in the Miss World Northern Europe contest, was the third Miss Iceland to win the most glamorous of all pageant titles. Her mother, Unnur Steinsson, herself a former Miss Iceland, was in the audience to applaud her beautiful daughter, in a contest watched by vast audiences around the world. "I could not be more proud," she said.

The new Miss World lives at home with her mother and step father, and is a great role model for young women worldwide. As well as being a student, she is a professional dancer and also a dance teacher.

An accomplished pianist, she is chairman of the college social club and enjoys acting, singing, snow-boarding, hiking, camping, horsemanship. Her passion for dance has made her a particularly talented choreographer.

"When you win Miss World, the next steps you will take are decided quickly, often based your own dreams and ambitions," said Unnur. "I knew, for example, that I wanted to spend a lot of time travelling to those countries where the Beauty with a Purpose programme can really make a difference. No former Miss Iceland has been involved in charity work and I am proud that I'll be the first. My grandfather died of lung cancer and so I feel very strongly about supporting cancer victims."

Unnur kept a diary of her year as Miss World. Here are some extracts:

"It was only a few days into the new year and my life as the new Miss World got into the swing of things".

One of the first international features I did was for the influential Hello! Magazine (in some countries it is called Hola!). The magazine flew over British photographer Trevor Leighton and his crew for a hectic two-day photo-shoot in different locations in Iceland, at which the stylist was the First Lady of the country - meeting her and working with her was a real honour for me.

"Soon after the shoot I went to London and then on to Warsaw, Poland, where Miss World 2006 will take place. Obviously, the arrangements made for each pageant are very complex and months and months of work go into the planning. Having just competed myself, it was fascinating to learn what goes on behind the scenes - it's then that you really appreciate the long hard path to the pageant".

"Then it was back to China again. The first city we visited was Sanya, where I had won my crown. Going back there brought home to me everything that had happened in a matter of a few short months".

"Going to the USA was both exciting and daunting one - the reason for the trip was to help raise money for needy children through the annual Children's Charity, a 24-hour live television broadcast which involves serious fundraising by a whole host of top personalities - show business stars, entertainers and athletes. My job was to host segments of the programme which included interviewing some of these famous faces. On the day of the telethon I could feel the adrenalin pumping through me. The telethon was a great experience and tremendous fun - and I forgot to mention that it was a GREAT success! We raised more than $3.6 million, setting a new telethon record".

"My next trip was to the beautiful country of Greece. In Athens I took part in a fashion show for one of the leading designers. As the guest or model of honour, I had three of their most spectacular dresses to wear on the catwalk. The following day we flew to the holiday island of Crete for a little sightseeing (the spectacular palace of Knossos is top of the list for tourists), a wonderful seafood lunch, and a beauty pageant! I was a judge in the Miss Crete competition, which was tremendous fun. It was quite an experience to be sitting on the other side of the table for a change! ".

"Back in Iceland I had exams to sit, but I had barely handed my papers in when I was on a plane to Poland for a week-long tour of the country with Mrs Morley and the team, to visit many of the towns and regions which were to play host to Miss World 2006. This particular visit started in Warsaw, the capital, where we visited the offices of the President of the city. It was spring and everything was green and fresh, full of life and possibilities - how very different to the snow-covered Warsaw of my previous visit".

"The next day I was a guest on Poland's most popular morning television programme, a spot I shared with Miss Polonia 2004, who has been my travelling companion on this trip. She is a great girl and we have become close friends".

"In May, I attended the Miss Iceland competition. The population in Iceland is very small so I knew almost all the contestants. I couldn't believe that it had been a year since I stood there on that very same stage being crowned Miss Iceland - I certainly had no idea then where that title would lead me".

"My others travels during my time as Miss World, took me to Wales to support a charity event for Save the Children, organised by the Miss Wales 2006 contestants; to Germany to see a live World Cup game - Brazil versus Croatia. I couldn't have been more excited. As a football fan this was a dream come true, and to London to attend a great event held by the Red Cross in London. The evening started with dinner at the Kuwait Embassy in London with the ambassador, his beautiful wife and daughter and other guests. Afterwards, at the fund-raising event held at the Lord Mayor of London's home, the necklace and bracelet I was wearing was auctioned. It got the second-highest price for that evening, which was great".

"It's certainly been a hectic year. But it's been one that has been hugely rewarding. I will never forget the places I have visited, the friends I have made, and the causes I became involved in. Being Miss World is a very rounding experience. I have learned so much I such a short period of time. It really has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Miss World 2004- Maria Julia Mantilla - Miss Peru



Maria Julia Mantilla, the 20-year-old winner of Miss World 2004, returned to her native Peru amid scenes of wild celebration. Hundreds of thousands of people, flocked to the airport in Lima, to catch a glimpse of their new national heroine.

The following day, Maju, as she is affectionately known, received a special award from the Prime Minster of Peru and later, at a meeting with the President of Peru, it was announced that she was to made an Ambassador of her homeland. How is that for a life-changing 48 hours!

Five weeks after claiming her crown, Maju was off to China and the start of her world tour. In the country's capital, Beijing, she took part in an important press conference and then, just days later, launched a Chinese Aids Awareness initiative. Miss World is a role model and can play a vital part in ensuring that the right message gets the right audience. In this instance the target group was the young people of China, and the message, from the Health Ministry of China and Sohu.com was that Aids, according to the latest figures from the World Heath Organisation, affects women as much as men. Hundreds of members of the media were there, and Miss World, Maju, made an enormous contribution, one that was backed by Julia Morley.

Maju's country was justly proud of her and who better to promote their beautiful country than the girl who, in such a short space of time, had done so much to get her homeland noticed. So, back at home, she starred in a special series of television commercials, promoting Peru before jetting off to Miami to put in a guest appearance on the popular Don Francisco Show.

From there it was back on another plane, to Iowa to present the 24-hour Telethon which raises huge sums of money every year for Variety, The Children's Charity. With Maju taking part, the event the amount pledged was over $400,000 dollars - a tremendous achievement without question.

It must have seemed like Maju was living from airport to airport, and to a degree that is true. But every trip was different, and every fund-raiser she attended important because ultimately it would make a real difference to the less lucky. Without a break in her schedule, Maju left in Iowa and headed straight to Houston for the Unicef Tsunami Dinner. All in all, Maju's whistle-stop tour of the USA resulted in over $5 million being raised for good causes.

Russia was the next stop, then the beautiful city of Prague in the Czech Republic - where, as a first-time visitor, she was shown some of the important historic sights. Welcoming her to his city was, the Minister of Culture said, the most pleasant duty he had performed since he came to office. China and Indonesia came quickly after, with a stop in Hong Kong, with Julia Morley to meet victims of the tsunami disaster.

A well-earned rest - although just two days of it - at the glorious Sheraton Sanya Resort (often referred to as 'The Home of Miss World') gave Maju a bit of a breather to get herself ready for the next round, that included an audience with the President of Indonesia and an evening fund-raiser where again people turned out in great numbers and with open cheque books. And that, says Maju, is what it is all about and the measure of your success.

In early June of her reign, it was announced that Miss World would take part in a challenge of some enormity - a mountain climb in Tibet. And it wasn't a little mountain or a casual hike - it was a strenuous journey up the 6,026-metre Qi-Zi, as part of a star-studded expedition team, who together, were working to raise funds for education and health care for Tibet's children. The team Maju was to join included celebrities, models and leading businessmen. She knew the training would be rigorous and she learned fast that to succeed on this type of mission you have to be tough and be able to work with the rest of your team.

With the forthcoming challenge very much on her mind, as well as strenuous ongoing training, Maju managed to fit into her schedule visits to London for a fund-raising event - a Tribute to Pavarotti - which raised over £300,000 for the Red Cross.

Another important occasion around then was Maju's 21st birthday. Not for Miss World a simple party with friends and family - Maju's coming of age was celebrated in great style with a surprise banquet in Wenzhou, China. A three-tiered birthday cake ablaze with candles was shared with some of the city's leading dignitaries who joined Julia Morley to sing Happy Birthday to Maria Julia - in English and in Chinese.

But partying had to put on one side after Maju's birthday and the training was stepped up in preparation for the climb.

Maju finally arrived at base camp with Julia Morley. At 4800 meters, and surrounded by huge mountains and glorious scenery, it was the launch pad for the assault on the peak. Despite the severe conditions moral was high among the team members and Maju was confident that she would reach the summit and wear the crown for the world to see, and claim her place in the Guinness Book of Records.

The History of 'Beauty with a Purpose'


The President of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley, coined the phrase 'Beauty With A Purpose' more than 25 years ago and since then more than $US400 million have been raised in its name in support of children's charities across the globe, bring help and hope to hundreds of thousands in need. Among the many recipients of this outstanding fund-generating activity has been the Nelson Mandela Trust, Canada’s Cops For Cancer, Variety Clubs International, Operation Hunger, and the SOS Children’s Villages which cares for orphaned and abandoned children in 132 countries.

Today, Beauty with a Purpose is the name of a special annual award programme that singles out and recognises the Miss World contestant who is shown, through charitable works, to have made a real difference to people in need in her homeland. Charity work is an integral to the Miss World ethos and part of the brief to contenders in each country is that they volunteer their time or fundraise for charity. All of the money raised goes to the nominated cause and the entrants’ records are credited with details of their personal contribution. Their hard work, dedication and above all, results, are what puts them in the running for the Beauty with a Purpose award.

First established under the title Miss World Scholarship (the name change came about in 2001) the event is staged as part of the festivities just prior to the pageant itself and since 2005 the winner has automatically been awarded a place in the Miss World semi finals. Past winners of the Beauty with a Purpose competition have included Aishwarya Rai, now Bollywood’s biggest star; judges, performers and presenters who are always eager to be associated with so prestigious a programme, include Jerry Springer, Lionel Richie, Erol Brown, Robert Palmer, Enrique Iglesias, Il Divo, Ricky Martin, Jackie Chan, Ronan Keating, Joan Collins, Westlife, Jerry Hall, and the late Gregory Peck and Bob Hope.

Without question, it is the enduring popularity of the Miss World pageant that has helped spread the word and encouraged young women to get involved - as part of their bid for the title - in activities that really can only make the world a better place.

The pageant itself, which today attracts entrants from more than 110 countries and is watched by a TV audience of over 2 billion. The judges are no longer just looking for the most beautiful girl with the most fantastic figure; their brief is to interview each girl individually and to decide which one has exceptional merits and will serve as a role model for her generation.

Today, most of the pageant contestants are students taking a sabbatical between college and university and, even if they don’t eventually win, they will have travelled and made new friends from among the representatives from over 100 nations. Importantly, by the time they climb on to that stage before the world’s cameras, they will already have proved themselves through the charitable work they have under-taken.

The one who walks away with the crown, amid tumultuous applause, will go on to travel the world for a year and accumulate considerable finances, in order to further her education but while the girl who collects the Beauty with a Purpose award may not win the Miss World title, she will have had a unique experience and the satisfaction of knowing her hard work for others has been recognised.

About Miss World


Miss World ™ is the original and most popular beauty pageant in the world. Each year young women from every country compete in front of over a billion television viewers. Judges determine which contestant has the winning combination of beauty, glamour, poise and intelligence - all the ingredients needed to be crowned Miss World. For the first time this year, you can be the judge on MissWorld.com.

Missworld.com is the official website for the Miss World ™ beauty pageant. Now you can vote for Miss People’s Choice – catapulting your favorite contestant to the final round of the official pageant. Visit Contestants to learn more about and message the 2008 finalists, and enjoy all of the latest Miss World news, videos and photos throughout the site.

Just remember to Sign Up to make your vote count! Sign Up is free and ensures that all the results are fair and valid. Watch the finals on 13th December 2008 to see if your favorite takes the crown.


History

History of the contest

The year was 1951. The competition was the first Miss World pageant, introduced as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations, and it was the audience it attracted who guaranteed its success.

Thanks to founder Eric Morley’s PR expertise, the first Miss World pageant welcomed a global audience greater than international events like the World Cup and the Olympic Games. The BBC televised Miss World from 1959 to 1979 and Thames Television picked up the contract from 1980 to 1988. At its peak, the show claimed an audience of 27.5 million in Britain alone a figure comparable to that of a royal wedding Fifty years on from the first pageant, Miss World still pulls in the crowds and can boast an annual audience of 2.5 billion.

The press went to town - the world’s most beautiful women, 26 in all, gathered together in one place and happy to smile at the battery of photographers.

The 1950s

The first Miss World, Sweden's Kiki Haakonson, was the first and last winner to be actually crowned in a two-piece swimsuit.

During the first decade of the pageant’s success, the outfits of contestants continued to raise eyebrows and grab headlines. In 1959, Loretta Powell of the United States arrived at the House of Commons in London clad in a Stetson, ruffled shirt and cowboy trousers. She may have got away with wearing what at the time was considered a tad outrageous, but she didn’t get away with her ‘guns’. The two stern-faced coppers in charge demanded she hand over her ‘firearms’ - even copies are not allowed in the British Parliament.

The 1960s

In 1966, India enjoyed its first success and Reita Feria proved to be a popular winner. As articulate and charming as she was beautiful, she went on to qualify as a doctor, highly respected for her brains and expertise rather than her looks. The decade finished with Sweden's Eva Ruber Staier winning the title. Later making her name in movies, Eva had a sweet tooth and when asked how she would spend her prize money, told the waiting press that: 'I'll buy lots of chocolate.'

The 1970s

The first Miss World contest of the decade, hosted by the legendary Bob Hope, was marred by feminist protesters. The quick-witted comedian simply shook his head in wonderment and remarked, "Anyone who would try and break up an affair as wonderful as this has got to be some kind of dope."

In that 1970 Miss World, two black women - Jennifer Hosten of Grenada and Pearl Jansen of Africa South - claimed first and second place, something that had never happened before at a major international pageant.

Despite feminist protests, Miss World was achieving monumental television audiences throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In the UK, Miss World 1970 was the single most-watched show of the entire year.

Wilnelia Merced (Miss Puerto Rico) won the 1975 competition. Wilnelia enjoyed a successful reign. She went on to marry one of Britain's best loved entertainers Sir Bruce Forsyth.

By 1979 the show was topping 500 million viewers world-wide. Gina Swainson won the day, as the little island of Bermuda celebrated her victory by declaring a national holiday.

The 1980s

In 1980, major changes in the Miss World judging process were implemented. For the first time personality and intelligence came into the evaluation and, of equal importance was that vital statistics were no longer deemed vital.

In 1983, the last UK winner of Miss World, Sarah-Jane Hutt, from Poole in Dorset, took the title at The Royal Albert Hall. Three years later, Halle Berry, then Miss USA, stunned the judges and audiences when she wore a bikini featuring stars and ropes of beads during a parade of national costumes. At the time she was quoted as saying that she wanted "to catch the eye from the start." Halle failed to win the contest, but as an Oscar-winning Hollywood star with a string of smash hits under her belt, she almost certainly has recovered from the disappointment. The decade finished with the first-ever Polish winner Aneta Kreglicka.

The 1990s

The one and only time that Miss World was held in the United States was in 1991 and it was there, in Atlanta, Georgia, that Ninibeth Leal won her crown, before becoming one of Venezuela's most successful models.

The years 1992 to 1995 marked a particularly successful period for the Miss World contest as the finals moved to Sun City, South Africa and viewer figures increased from 1.2 billion to 1.8 billion.

The contestants were welcomed by none other than President Nelson Mandela and over one million people turned out to see them in Johannesburg.

In 1994 Aishwarya Rai became the second Indian winner after a 28 year gap, her win marking the start of a golden age for Indian contestants who took the crown in four out of the next seven years while Aishwarya went on to become Bollywood's biggest female star.

The show's first visit to the Indian continent came in 1996 when over 40,000 people turned out to watch the show at Bangalore's cricket stadium. Irene Skliva won the title of the first-ever Greek Miss World.

In 1999, the show came to London's Olympia. A few protesters turned up to throw flour bombs, but it merely prompted the late Eric Morley to quip, "It's just like the good old days. Who would have thought it would go on for half a century?" Who indeed?

The start of a new century

Miss World reached its half-century in the year 2000 and the contest returned to London, to the Millennium Dome, for the 50th anniversary show. A massive television audience of 2.3 billion witnessed India retain the Miss World crown and in the UK alone more than 8 million people tuned in during the two-hour broadcast on Channel 5.

Miss World 2001, Agbani Darego was the first black African winner and the following year Miss World was staged in her homeland, in Abuja, Nigeria.

The 2007 contest took place in the Crown of Beauty Theatre, Sanya, in the People's Republic of China. The 106 contestants recorded the official torch relay anthem Light the Passion, Share the Dream for the 2008 Olympics Games as a major cooperation between the Beijing Olympic Committee and Miss World Ltd. The song had its first broadcast to a global audience at the 57th Miss World final on December 1 2007, when model Zhang Zilin became Miss World. Zhang was born in 1984, more than thirty years after the start of the Miss World pageant.

With Julia Morley as Chairman, Miss world continues to break records. With franchises in over 120 countries and fundraising topping £150 million, who knows what the rest of this century will bring for Britain's most successful ever international television show.

Meet Eric Morley

Eric Morley started his career at Mecca in 1946 as a £15-a-week PR man, and finished as chairman, taking what was, in effect, a small catering business and dance company and developing into a mighty conglomerate. As the country’s top entertainment group, thanks to Morley’s single-minded dedication, Mecca’s interests encompassed bingo, gaming, ice skating, bowling alleys, discotheques and restaurants. With 15,000 employees, it also provided the catering and entertainment facilities for the major London-based football clubs - Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs.

Never one to rest on his laurels, the irrepressible Morley, created the BBC Come Dancing series in 1948, which became instantly famous for its tears, tantrums and miles of sequined netting and went on to become the longest-running television series in history. Buoyed by the success of Come Dancing Morley went on to develop a programme of competitions designed to encourage a better sense of dress among those who frequented dance halls.

Perhaps it was this, coupled with his innate understanding of human nature, and the recognition that every man and woman desired that brief flirtation with fame, that sewed the early seeds of a competition concept that was to become one the most talked-about, and successful the world has ever seen, Miss World, which has spanned more than 50 years of changing tastes and attitudes.

Eric Morley was loved and revered by a great many people - those who knew him well and those who admired him from afar.

An assiduous worker for charity, Eric with his wife Julia raised more than £100 million over the years for various causes. He completed the London Marathon when he was 63, despite a damaged hamstring.

He was also a long-time supporter of the Variety Club of Great Britain, and was a Barker in 1961 and Chief Barker in 1973, when he raised over £2 million. Indefatigable, he took on the role of President of Variety Clubs International in 1978, raising the funds to build the charity’s Childrens' Hospital at King's College (he personally contributed the first £250,000), for the Wishing Well Appeal at Great Ormond Street, and for the Outward Bound Trust of which he was also president. Eric Morley passed away in 2000 at the age of 82, after suffering a heart attack. Bruce Forsyth spoke for people the world over when he said “Eric Morley was a one-off. People like this can never be replaced. He gave so much to so many. Eric was a giant of a man in every sense, one of the great humanitarians of the twentieth century.”