thecrowncompetitors

She was the Miss World 2008 Beach Beauty competition second runner-up, placing after Miss Mexico who was the eventual winner, and Miss South Africa, the first runner-up. She won the Miss World Top Model competition on December 3, 2008. Both her placements at the two first fast track competitions remind Zhang Zilin's successes at Miss World 2007.

On December 13, Ksenia was crowned the new Miss World at the finals in Johannesburg, South Africa after beating 108 contestants. The first runner up was India's Parvathy Omanakuttan and second runner up was Gabrielle Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago. She is the second Russian contestant to win Miss World, the first was Julia Kourotchkina in 1992. The finale was watched by 1 billion viewers from 187 countries.

In a press conference after her victory, she said: "I am very glad to have brought this crown to Russia. I am proud that it is Russia that got the crown and I devote my victory to the whole country and to its every citizen... and to my grandmother." She also said that she hoped to improve Russia's international image to show the world that a girl from Russia could personify kindness, beauty and happiness. She says raising funds for charity will be one her main tasks in 2009.

1st Runner-up India - Parvathy Omanakuttan
2nd Runner-up Trinidad & Tobago - Gabrielle Walcott

Finalists

 Angola - Brigith dos Santos
 South Africa - Tansey Coetzee

Semi-finalists

 Barbados - Natalie Griffith
 Brazil - Tamara Almeida
 Croatia - Josipa Kusić
 Iceland - Alexandra Ívarsdóttir
 Kazakhstan - Alfina Nassyrova
 Mexico - Anagabriela Espinoza
 Puerto Rico - Ivonne Orsini
 Spain - Patricia Rodríguez
 Ukraine - Iryna Zhuravska
 Venezuela - Hannelly Quintero

Continental Queens of Beauty
Africa: Brigith dos Santos (Angola)
Americas: Hannelly Quintero (Venezuela)
Asia & Oceania: Parvathy Omanakuttan (India)
Caribbean: Gabrielle Walcott (Trinidad & Tobago)
Europe: Ksenia Sukhinova (Russia)

Fast Track Events

The Miss World Beach Beauty took place on November 29 at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Durban, South Africa. The 25 semifinalists for the event were selected by a panel of judges and the names were revealed on November 27.
Winner: Mexico
1st runner-up: South Africa
2nd runner-up: Russia
Top 10 finalists: Angola, India, Lebanon, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, Venezuela
Top 25 semi-finalists: Australia, Colombia, Croatia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Paraguay, Serbia, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Zimbabwe

Top Model

The Miss World Top Model took place on December 3 at Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Soweto, South Africa. 32 semifinalists competed in the event.
Winner: Russia
1st runner-up: Angola
2nd runner-up: India
Top 10 finalists: Croatia, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Venezuela
Top 32 semi-finalists: Argentina, Barbados, Belarus, Brazil, China PR, Colombia, Ethiopia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Namibia, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Zimbabwe

Sports

The Miss World Sports took place on December 5 in Muldersdrift, South Africa.
Winner: Iceland
1st runner-up: Nigeria
2nd runner-up: Portugal
Top 6 finalists: Greece, Israel, Peru

Talent

The Miss World Talent took place on December 7 at Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Winner: Barbados
1st runner-up: Austria
2nd runner-up: Ukraine
Top 19 finalists: Cayman Islands, Chinese Taipei, Croatia, Denmark, Gibraltar, Indonesia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Portugal, South Africa

Beauty With A Purpose

The winner was announced during the live telecast on December 13.
Winner: Trinidad & Tobago, Gabrielle Walcott: for working with the Just Because Foundation dedicated to create hospitable conditions for children with cancer. Gabrielle helped raise about $100,000 in Charity for the creation of a new ward for these children.
The remaining 4 finalists were: 
Hungary, Szilvia Freire: For working with the NEM ADOM FEL Foundation, dedicated to the awareness that handicapped and disabled people are of value to our society, and to make these individuals feel accepted.
Kenya, Ruth Kinuthia: For working with a school in the slums of Nairobi mainly for students who have been orphaned by HIV AIDS, helping raise funds for the sustenance of the school, as well as being a role model for students.
Mexico, Anagabriela Espinoza: For assisting the Casa Hogar of Jilotepec, "Ayuda y Solidaridad con las Niñas de la Calle", which means help and solidarity with the girls from the streets. Anagaby created a dynamic event called "Pass the Crown" where she would ask the girls about their best quality, and then put a tiara on their heads because of it.

Special Award

Best World Dress Designer
Winner: United States
Finalists: Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago

*** Philippines: Janina San Miguel was replaced by Bb. Pilipinas 1st runner-up, Danielle Castaño due to Janina's personal decision to give up her crown.

Zhang Zilin is the Miss World 2007 title holder, representing the People's Republic of China as Miss China World 2007. She is the first Miss World of East Asian origin.Zhang was born in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, on 22 March, 1984. She then moved to the Chinese capital, Beijing, where she attended high school from 1996 to 2002. She later completed her studies at the University of Science and Technology Beijing and obtained a degree in business administration in 2006. Zhang is now working as a fashion model. Having grown up in an academically oriented family, Zhang has always valued her education and has made many achievements in her studies. Both a scholar and an athlete, Zhang Zilin began training in various types of sports at the tender age of eight. She excels in the Triple Jump and Hurdles and has undergone professional training in the 100 meter Hurdles alongside Olympic Gold Medalist Liu Xiang. In 2002, Zhang finished high school and commenced her studies at the University of Science and Technology Beijing where she graduated in 2006. As an undergraduate, she competed and won many athletic competitions. In 2005, she won the "Sports Advance Distinction Award" at her university. Zhang's career in modeling and pageantry started in 2003 where she participated in a beauty pageant organized by New Silk Road Modeling Agency. As a first timer in pageantry, Zhang only managed to land herself in the top 10 due to lack of experience. However, she was later discovered by the executive manager of the agency, Lee Xiao Bai, who declared that Zhang had the potential to become a supermodel. Since then Zhang has graced the runways in major fashion capitals of the world including Paris and Berlin. In 2006, she was shortlisted as one of the top ten professional supermodels during the Chinese Fashion and Culture Awards. After that she participated in Giorgio Armani's 2007 Autumn/Winter Collection show in Paris and later earned herself the title of "Top Model of the Year" from New Silk Road modeling agency. Zhang lent her voice for the 2008 Summer Olympics soundtrack and also appeared in the music video for the same song entitled "Beijing Welcomes You."

1st Runner-up Angola - Micaela Reis
2nd Runner-up Mexico - Carolina Morán

Finalists

 Sweden - Annie Oliv
 Trinidad & Tobago - Valene Maharaj

Semi-finalists

 Austria - Christine Reiler
 Dominican Republic - Ada de la Cruz
 Ecuador - Valeska Saab
 Ghana - Irene Dwomoh
 Grenada - Vivian Burkhardt
 Hong Kong China - Kayi Cheung
 Jamaica - Yendi Phillips
 Malaysia - Deborah Priya Henry
 Puerto Rico - Jennifer Guevara
 United States - Abigail McCary
 Venezuela - Claudia Suárez

Continental Queens of Beauty
Beauty Queen of Africa: Micaela Reis (Angola)
Beauty Queen of Americas: Carolina Morán (Mexico)
Beauty Queen of Asia & Oceania: Zhang Zilin (China PR)
Beauty Queen of Caribbean: Valene Maharaj (Trinidad & Tobago)
Beauty Queen of Europe: Annie Oliv (Sweden)

Fast Track Competitions

Beach Beauty

The Miss World Beach Beauty was selected on the November 10.
Winner: Dominican Republic
1st runner-up: Jamaica
2nd runner-up: China PR
Top 5 finalists: Lithuania, Mexico
Top 21 semi-finalists: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Ethiopia, Grenada, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Ukraine, Venezuela

Miss Sports

The Miss World Sports was selected on November 14.
Winner: United States
1st runner-up: Scotland
2nd runner-up: Sweden
3rd runner-up: Wales
Top 16 finalists: Albania, Argentina, Cayman Islands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay

Top Model

The Miss World Top Model was selected on November 24.
Winner: China PR
1st runner-up: Puerto Rico
2nd runner-up: Mexico
Top 7 finalists: Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela

Miss Talent

The Miss World Talent was selected on November 26.
Winner: Ghana
1st runner-up: Scotland
2nd runner-up: Sweden
Top 18 finalists: Australia, Canada, Cyprus, England, Gibraltar, Grenada, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Macedonia FYRO, Malta, Moldova, Slovakia, Thailand

Beauty With A Purpose
Winners: (tie) 
Ecuador: Valeska Saab helps people with a terrible generic skin condition called ichthyosis.
Hong Kong China: Kayi Cheung helps old people and regularly works at retirement homes. She also has strong ties with UNICEF.
Top 5 Finalists: 
Indonesia: Kamidia Radisti helps less fortunate children with home schooling, free medical services for babies and young children.
Jamaica: Yendi Phillips helped people recover from a hurricane which hit the island by organising a fashion show and music event.
Sweden: Annie Oliv has for the last two years worked with a disabled person who has always been in a wheelchair and unable to do anything for herself.

Special Awards
Best World Dress Designer: Cho Eun-ju (Korea)

***Angola reached its highest position in the Miss World's history, finishing as 1st Runner-up.

***Zhang Zilin's victory marked the first time that an East Asian woman has won the Miss World title.

Tatána Kucharová won the title of Miss Czech Republic and Miss World 2006. In doing so, she became the first woman from the Czech Republic to win the title at the final event of the Miss World competition, held on September 30, 2006, in Warsaw, Poland. Kucharová beat 103 other women in voting among a panel of judges and from television viewers around the world during a two-hour finals ceremony in the Polish capital, where the president of Warsaw watched the finals, and presented the new Miss World with a scroll, dubbing her as an honorary ambassador of Warsaw, and asking her to carry a message of peace around the world. Kucharová, a 177cm tall high-school student with long blond hair, was born in Trnava, Slovakia and grew up in the town of Opocno, Czech Republic. She told the judges that she wants to attend university and then become a model, which she hopes will enable her to travel. She likes tennis and horse riding and has many pets, including a turtle, bird, many cats, rabbits and guinea pigs. Her personal motto is "Always be an optimist." Tatána handed over her crown on December 1, 2007, to the next Miss World, Zhang Zilin of China in Sanya, China. Among the nations she has travelled to during her reign were her very own Czech Republic, besides Poland, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, United States, China, England, Northern Ireland, Russia, Sri Lanka and Latvia.

1st Runner-up Romania - Ioana Boitor
2nd Runner-up Australia - Sabrina Houssami

Finalists

 Angola - Stiviandra Oliveira
 Brazil - Jane Borges
 Jamaica - Sara Lawrence

Semi-finalists

 Canada - Malgosia Majewska
 Ghana - Lamisi Mbillah
 India - Natasha Suri
 Lebanon - Annabella Hilal
 Mexico - Karla Jiménez
 Namibia - Anna Nashandi
 Northern Ireland - Catherine Jean Milligan
 Puerto Rico - Thebyam Carrion
 Scotland - Nicola McLean
 Venezuela - Federica Guzmán
 Vietnam - Mai Phương Thúy

Continental Region Queens of Beauty
Out of the 17 semi-finalists a group of judges selected the winner of each regional group and received the respective Miss World Regional Title. All of them made the Top 6 finalists. 
Miss World Asia Pacific: Sabrina Houssami (Australia)
Miss World Northern Europe: Taťána Kuchařová (Czech Republic)
Miss World Southern Europe: Ioana Boitor (Romania)
Miss World Caribbean: Sara Lawrence (Jamaica)
Miss World Americas: Jane Borges (Brazil)
Miss World Africa: Stiviandra Oliveira (Angola)

Fast Track Events

Beach Beauty
Winner: Federica Guzmán (Venezuela) 
1st runner-up: Taťána Kuchařová (Czech Republic)
2nd runner-up: Natasha Suri (India)
3rd runner-up: Stiviandra Oliveira (Angola)
4th runner-up: Colleen Pereira (Singapore)
Top 10 finalists: Latoya McDowald (Barbados), Marzena Cieślik (Poland), Ioana Boitor (Romania), Nicola McLean (Scotland), Inmaculada Torres (Spain)
Top 25 semi-finalists: Ana María Ortiz (Bolivia), Azra Gazdić (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Jane Borges (Brazil), Malgosia Majewska (Canada), Elizabeth Loaiza (Colombia), Nino Kalandadze (Georgia), Sarah Morrissey (Ireland), Elizaveta Migatcheva (Italy), Sara Lawrence (Jamaica), Abiola Bashorun (Nigeria), Gisselle Bissot (Panama), Anna Maris Igpit (Philippines), Thebyam Carrión (Puerto Rico), Iris Mulej (Slovenia), Cathrin Skoog (Sweden)

Miss Sports
Winner: Malgosia Majewska (Canada)
1st runner-up: Thebyam Carrion (Puerto Rico)
2nd runner-up: Liga Meinarte (Latvia)
Top 24 finalists: 
Asia Pacific: Kristania Besouw (Indonesia), Kazuha Kondo (Japan), Sharon Park (Korea), Selenge Erdene-Ochir (Mongolia)
Northern Europe: Jenniina Tuokko (Finland), Sabina Chukayeva (Kazakhstan), Liga Meinarte (Latvia), Alexandra Mazur (Russia)
Southern Europe: Renata Toth (Hungary), Elizaveta Migatcheva (Italy), Ivana Knežević (Montenegro), Magdalena Sebestova (Slovakia)
Caribbean: Ambuyah Ebanks (Cayman Islands), Stephanie Colosse (Martinique), Thebyam Carrión (Puerto Rico), Tineke de Freitas (Trinidad & Tobago)
Americas: Malgosia Majewska (Canada), Jackelinne Piccinini (Guatemala), Karla Jiménez (Mexico), Brooke Angus (United States)
Africa: Lorato Tebogo (Botswana), Anna Nashandi (Namibia), Thuli Sithole (South Africa), Katanekwa Matundwelo (Zambia)

Miss Talent
Winner: Catherine Jean Milligan (Northern Ireland)
1st runner-up: Elizaveta Migatcheva (Italy)
2nd runner-up: Lorraine Maphala (Zimbabwe)
3rd runner-up: Leisi Poldsam (Estonia)
4th runner-up: Selenge Erdene-Ochir (Mongolia)
Top 10 finalists: Latoya McDowald (Barbados), Ivana Ergić (Croatia), Natasha Suri (India), Patrice Juah (Liberia), Sara Almeida (Portugal)

Beauty With A Purpose
Winner: Lamisi Mbillah (Ghana)

Special Award

Best World Dress Designer
Winner: Ivana Ergić (Croatia)
1st runner-up: Sheryl Baas (Netherlands)
2nd runner-up: Natasha Suri (India)
3rd runner-up: Khadijah Kiptoo (Kenya)
4th runner-up: Sarah Morrissey (Ireland)
Top 20 finalists: Stiviandra Oliveira (Angola), Shanandoa Wijshijer (Aruba), Latoya McDowald (Barbados), Duo Liu (China PR), Elizabeth Loaiza (Colombia), Taťána Kuchařová (Czech Republic), Paola Torres (Dominican Republic), Elizaveta Migatcheva (Italy), Annabella Hilal (Lebanon), Vanesha Seetohul (Mauritius), Marzena Cieślik (Poland), Ioana Boitor (Romania), Brooke Angus (United States), Federica Guzmán (Venezuela), Mai Phương Thúy (Vietnam)

***Ivana Knežević was the first Miss Montenegro at any international event since the country's independence on June 3, 2006.

Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir was crowned Miss World 2005 on December 10, 2005 in the Beauty Crown Theatre located in the Chinese beach city of Sanya. For the past year Unnur has been studying anthropology at the University of Iceland and next autumn she will commence her studies in law as she plans to graduate as a lawyer, as well as an anthropologist. During the summer of 2005 Unnur Birna temped as a police officer at Keflavík International Airport. She is the chairman of the college social club and teaches dance. She enjoys acting, singing, all types of dancing, snow-boarding, hiking, camping, horsemanship and has a special talent for choreography and playing the piano. Her mother, Unnur Steinsson, won the Miss Iceland pageant in 1983 and was a finalist at the 1983 Miss World pageant. Unnur's mother was 3-4 months pregnant during the 1983 pageant. This was against the pageant rules and warrants disqualification. However, this was not found out until after the pageant was over. Unnur is the third Miss World from Iceland, the former two were Linda Pétursdóttir in 1988 and Hólmfríður Karlsdóttir in 1985. Unnur's reign only lasted 9 months because the pageant was scheduled for September 2006.

1st runner-up Mexico - Dafne Molina
2nd runner-up Puerto Rico - Ingrid Marie Rivera

Finalists

 Italy - Sofia Bruscoli
 Korea - Oh Eun-young
 Tanzania - Nancy Sumari

Semi-finalists

 American Virgin Islands - Kmisha Counts
 Canada - Ramona Amiri
 India - Sindhura Gadde
 Jamaica - Terri-Karelle Griffith
 Northern Ireland - Lucy Evangelista
 Philippines - Carlene Aguilar
 Russia - Yulia Ivanova
 South Africa - Dhiveja Sundrum
 Spain - Mireia Verdú

Regional Queens
Miss World Asia Pacific: Oh Eun-young (Korea)
Miss World Northern Europe: Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir (Iceland)
Miss World Southern Europe: Sofia Bruscoli (Italy)
Miss World Caribbean: Ingrid Marie Rivera (Puerto Rico)
Miss World Americas: Dafne Molina (Mexico)
Miss World Africa: Nancy Sumari (Tanzania)

Fast Track Competitions

Beach Beauty
Winner: Russia
1st runner-up: Moldova
2nd runner-up: Mexico
Top 5 finalists: Canada, Iceland
Top 19 semifinalists: Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Hong Kong China, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, New Zealand, Philippines, Slovenia, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Wales

Miss Talent
Winner: American Virgin Islands
Top 5 finalists: Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Japan
Top 16 semi-finalists: 
Best Singing Act Performance: (1) American Virgin Islands, (2) Greece, (3) Slovenia
Best Original Performance: (1) Italy, (2) Korea, (3) (TIE) Costa Rica, and Uganda
Best Traditional Dance Performance: (1) Canada, (2) Scotland, (3) People's Republic of China
Best Musical Act Performance: (1) Japan, (2) Bulgaria, (3) Trinidad & Tobago
Best Dance Performance: (1) Czech Republic, (2) Jamaica, (3) Iceland

Beauty With A Purpose
Winner: Oh Eun-young (Korea)

Miss Sports
Winner: Asia Pacific 
1st runner-up: Caribbean
2nd runner-up: Southern Europe

^The sports award was given to a continental group rather than an individual.

Special Award
Best World Dress Designer: Hande Subasi (Turkey)

***Philippines (Carlene Aguilar) is the first contestant from her country to compete in a previous international pageant. She was a semi-finalist in the first annual Miss Earth pageant in 2001. During Miss World, she placed in the semifinals for the fourth consecutive time. In this edition, a big sweep happened when Korea called to be one of the finalists for Miss World Asia Pacific.

María Julia “Maju” Mantilla García was born in 1984 in Trujillo, a city in Peru's northern coast. On December 4, 2004, in the Beauty Crown Theatre located in the Chinese beach city of Sanya, she was crowned Miss World 2004 by the reigning champion, 2003's Miss Ireland Rosanna Davison, daughter of singer Chris de Burgh. During her reign, Mantilla performed a variety of duties focused on fundraising for charitable organizations. She has travelled to Indonesia, Russia, Peru, United States, Russia, Czech Republic, China and many other countries during her reign. Popularly known in her country as "Maju" Mantilla, her aunt Maria Julia Mantilla Mayer was Miss Peru 1969. She won the right to represent Peru in the Miss World contest as runner-up to Liesel Holler (Miss Peru Universe 2004) and was one of the major favorites in the run-up to the pageant, which was decided by a global television/telephone/online vote. The final contest was held in the southernmost Hainan province. The pageant, in its 54th edition, included contestants from 107 nations and attracted about 2.5 billion TV viewers around the world. Mantilla is studying to become a high school teacher and plans to start a second career in tourism. Mantilla is the older of two sisters. She has worked as a model and as the Hostess of a popular TV show in Peru. She is currently studying to become a high school teacher and plans to start a second career in Tourism. One of her dreams is to own an online tourism company to promote her native town and country all over the world. Her city, Trujillo, is a mixture of colonial and pre-Columbian architecture. In 2001, Mantilla became the Peruvian national champion of Triathlon and Penthathlon, and was elected national athlete of the year. She is a professional in The Marinera, a typical local dance. With a group of ladies, developed a program in Trujillo to give breakfast to hundreds of children in poor areas.

1st runner-up Dominican Republic - Claudia Cruz
2nd runner-up United States - Nancy Randall

Finalists

 Philippines - Maria Karla Bautista
 Poland - Katarzyna Borowicz

Semi-finalists

 Antigua - Shermain Jeremy
 Australia - Sarah Davies
 China PR - Yang Jin
 Czech Republic - Jana Doleželová
 Mexico - Yessica Ramírez
 Nigeria - Anita Uwagbale
 Russia - Tatiana Sidorchuk
 Trinidad & Tobago - Kenisha Thom
 Vietnam - Nguyễn Thị Huyền
 Wales - Amy Guy

Continental Queens
Queen of Africa: Anita Uwagbale (Nigeria)
Queen of Americas: María Julia Mantilla (Peru)
Queen of Asia & Oceania: Maria Karla Bautista (Philippines)
Queen of Caribbean: Claudia Cruz (Dominican Republic)
Queen of Europe: Katarzyna Borowicz (Poland)

Fast Track Competitions

Beach Beauty
Winner: United States
1st runner-up: Australia
2nd runner-up: Trinidad & Tobago
Top 10 finalists: Bolivia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Philippines
Top 20 semi-finalists: Aruba, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Lebanon, Panama, Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela

Miss Sports
Winner: Wales
1st runner-up: Australia
2nd runner-up: (tied) Peru, Trinidad & Tobago
Top 10 Finalists: Antigua, Fiji Islands, Iceland, Netherlands, Russia, Thailand

Miss Talent
Winner: Antigua
1st runner-up: China PR
2nd runner-up: Barbados
Top 20 semi-finalists: Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Brazil, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji Islands, Italy, Korea, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago

Top Model
Winner: Mexico
1st runner-up: Angola
2nd runner-up: Belgium
3rd runner-up: Russia
4th runner-up: Spain
Top 10 finalists: Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Greece, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago
Top 20 semi-finalists: Aruba, Botswana, Bulgaria, China PR, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Poland, United States

NOTE - The official site listed Russia as 3rd runner-up and Spain as 4th runner-up, but the Top Model telecast only announced the winner, and 2 runner-ups.

Contestants' Choice
Winner: Australia
1st runner-up: United States
2nd runner-up: Peru

Special Awards
Best World Dress Designer: Ellen Petri (Belgium)
Miss World Scholarship: Tonoya Toyloy (Jamaica)

***Holland changed its name to Netherlands.

Rosanna Diane Davison was the winner of the Miss World 2003 title. She is the daughter of musician Chris De Burgh. The song "For Rosanna" was written by her father in her honour for his 1986 album, Into the Light. Rosanna attended Rathdown School, a private, Protestant, all-girls school located in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. She has stated that she was "just grateful (she) was brought up in a Protestant way". In 2006, she graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in Sociology and History of Art. December 2003 saw Rosanna, along with 106 other contestants, compete in the ‘Miss World’ competition in China. Rosanna went on to win the crown and is the first ‘Miss Ireland’ to win the ‘Miss World’ title. She was also chosen as the Irish representative for the Miss Hawaiian Tropic 2003 beauty pageant, but declined the offer to participate in order to concentrate on her exams. Rosanna is currently the face of ‘Holiday On Ice’, and has also been involved in two campaigns for Newbridge Silverware and Rally Ireland. Rosanna is currently signed to Assets Modelling Agency in Dublin and Storm Model Management in the UK. Rosanna and boyfirend Wesley Quirke found each other on Bebo. According to reports in the media the couple met up when Wesley contacted Rosanna via her Bebo webpage and the romance evolved from there.

1st runner-up Canada - Nazanin Afshin-Jam
2nd runner-up People's Republic of China - Guan Qi
3rd runner-up ^ India - Ami Vashi
4th runner-up ^ Philippines - Maria Rafaela Yunon

Semifinalists(By order of final placement)

 Ethiopia - Hayat Ahmed
 Venezuela - Valentina Patruno
 Australia - Olivia Stratton
 Lebanon - Marie-José Hnein
 Jamaica - Jade Fulford
 Switzerland - Bianca Sissing
 Georgia - Irina Onashvili
 Norway - Elisabeth Wathne
 Peru - Claudia Hernández
 Trinidad & Tobago - Magdalene Walcott
 New Zealand - Melanie Paul
 Puerto Rico - Joyceline Montero
 Dominican Republic - María Eugenia Vargas
 Greece - Vasiliki Tsekoura
 Bolivia - Helen Aponte

Continental Queens of Beauty
Queen of Africa: Hayat Ahmed (Ethiopia)
Queen of Americas: Nazanin Afshin-Jam (Canada)
Queen of Asia & Oceania: Guan Qi (People's Republic of China)
Queen of Caribbean: Jade Fulford (Jamaica)
Queen of Europe: Rosanna Davison (Ireland)

Fast Track Events

Beach Beauty
Winner: Rosanna Davison (Ireland)
1st runner-up: Bianca Sissing (Switzerland)
2nd runner-up: Helen Aponte (Bolivia)
Top 10 semifinalists: Julie Taton (Belgium), Hayat Ahmed (Ethiopia), Jade Fulford (Jamaica), Melanie Paul (New Zealand), Maria Rafaela Yunon (Philippines), Karolina Gorazda (Poland), Natalia Rodríguez (Uruguay)

Miss Sports
Winner: Nazanin Afshin Jam (Canada)
1st runner-up: Lucie Vachova (Czech Republic)
2nd runner-up: Patricia Filomena Chifor (Romania)

Miss Personality
Winner: Helen Aponte (Bolivia)
1st runner-up: Racquel Wilkinson (Barbados)
2nd runner-up: Anne-Marie Browne (Antigua)

Miss Talent
Winner: Irina Onashvili (Georgia)
1st runner-up: Joyceline Montero (Puerto Rico)
2nd runner-up: Kriistina Gabor (Estonia)
Top 20 semifinalists: Anne-Marie Browne (Antigua), Grisel Hitoff (Argentina), Nathalie Biermans (Aruba), Boingotlo Motlalekgosi (Botswana), Nazanin Afshin-Jam (Canada), Quan Qi (People's Republic of China), Claudia Molina (Colombia), Julie Taton (Czech Republic), Maria Eugenia Vargas (Dominican Republic), Hayat Ahmed (Ethiopia), Ami Vashi (India), Rosanna Davison (Ireland), Park Ji-yea (Korea), Irina Askolska (Latvia), Vaida Griksaite (Lithuania), Marija Vašik (Macedonia FYRO), Kimberly Castro (Northern Marianas), Valentina Patruno (Venezuela)

People's Choice
Winner: Olivia Stratton (Australia)

Special Awards
Best World Dress Designer: Claudia Hernández (Peru)
Miss World Scholarship: Denisa Kola (Albania)

***Philippines is the niece of Miss Universe 1984 3rd runner-up, Maria Desiree Verdadero.

Azra Akin was crowned Miss World 2002 at the annual pageant held on December 7, 2002 at Alexandra Palace in London, England, representing Turkey. She was born on December 8, 1981 in the Dutch town of Almelo, and was raised in the Netherlands by Turkish parents. Akin enjoys ballet and plays the flute. She also won the pageant's Best Gown award. At 17, she was selected Elite Model Look 1998 of Turkey. In 2003 she won a gold medal when she participated in the British reality TV show The Games. Akin has also played the leading role in the long term TV series Yagmur Zamani, minor role as an actress in Turkish TV shows including Teberik Sanssiz and the 2005 feature Istanbul Tales (Anlat Istanbul). She speaks Dutch, Turkish and English. She has been dating model and actor Kivanç Tatlitug since 2002.

1st runner-up Colombia - Natalia Peralta
2nd runner-up Peru - Marina Mora
3rd runner-up Norway - Kathrine Sørland
4th runner-up People's Republic of China - Wu Ying-Na

Finalists

 Australia - Nicole Rita Gazal
 Nigeria - Chinenye Ochuba
 Philippines - Katherine Anne Manalo
 United States - Rebekah Revels
 Venezuela - Goizeder Azúa

Semifinalists

 Aruba - Rachelle Oduber
 Bosnia & Herzegovina - Daniela Vinš
 Curaçao - Ayanette Mary-Ann Statia
 Holland - Elise Boulogne
 India - Shruti Sharma
 Italy - Suzanne Zuber
 Puerto Rico - Cassandra Polo
 Russia - Anna Tatarintseva
 Vietnam - Phạm Thị Mai Phương
 Yugoslavia - Ana Šargić

Continental Queens of Beauty

Africa Nigeria - Chinenye Ochuba
Americas Colombia - Natalia Peralta
Asia & Oceania People's Republic of China - Wu Ying-Na
Caribbean Aruba - Rachelle Oduber
Europe Turkey - Azra Akın

Special Awards

Best World Dress Designer Turkey - Azra Akın
Miss World Talent United States - Rebekah Revels
Miss World Scholarship Swaziland - Nozipho Shabangu

Darego was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2001. Contrary to popular belief, Darego did not replace Valerie Peterside after the latter was dethroned - Peterside had won Miss Nigeria. Before MBGN, Darego had participated in the Face of Africa modelling competition, but failed to make it past the first round. While a first-year student of the University of Port Harcourt, she represented Nigeria in the 2001 Miss Universe competition, held in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. She placed among the top 10 semi-finalists, finishing seventh. She was the only black semi-finalist that year - and the only finalist to wear a maillot swimsuit. In November 2001, Darego traveled to South Africa to compete in the Miss World competition, beating Miss Scotland and Miss Aruba in the final round to become the first black African winner of the title. Her victory in the pageant, hosted by American talk show host Jerry Springer, was widely welcomed in her home country. Her one year tenure included goodwill trips and scheduled appearances on behalf of the pageant. In addition, the organizers of the competition began preparations to host the 2002 finals in Nigeria, as the pageant is often held in the winner's home country the subsequent year. One week before the 2002 pageant, riots erupted in Kaduna (source required) and other cities in northern Nigeria after small protests against the competition inflamed simmering religious tension between Muslims and Christians. Several hundred died in the violence that ensued. The 2002 Miss World competition was moved from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, where it was staged in London that December. Darego left the University of Port Harcourt after her reign as Miss World ended in 2002. She is signed to Next Model Management, and is currently pursuing a modelling career in Europe. She has modelled for L'Oreal cosmetics.

1st Runner-up Aruba - Zizi Lee
2nd Runner-up Scotland - Juliet-Jane Horne

Finalists

 People's Republic of China - Bing Li
 Nicaragua - Ligia Argüello

Semi-finalists

 Russia - Irina Kovalenko
 South Africa - Jo-Ann Strauss
 Spain - Macarena García
 Ukraine - Oleksandra Nikolayenko
 Yugoslavia - Tijana Stajšić

Continental Queens of Beauty

Africa Nigeria - Agbani Darego
Americas Nicaragua - Ligia Arguello
Asia & Oceania People's Republic of China - Bing Li
Caribbean Aruba - Zizi Lee
Europe Scotland - Juliet-Jane Horne

Special Awards

Best World Dress Designer Korea - Seo Hyun-jin
Most Photogenic Thailand - Lada Engchawadechasilp
Miss World Talent Barbados - Stephanie Chase
Miss World Scholarship Costa Rica - Piarella Peralta

***Hawaii is technically represented twice: as part of the United States and as Hawaii itself. 
This is the only second time Hawaii had joined the competition (the first one in 1959).

***Christina Sawaya (Lebanon) was expected to compete at Miss Universe 2002, but boycotted because of the participation of an Israeli delegate. She later won the Miss International 2002 title.

Former Miss India World and later becoming Miss World 2000, Chopra made her acting debut with the Tamil film Thamizhan (2001). Two years later, she made her Bollywood debut with Anil Sharma's The Hero: Love Story of a Spy and had her first commercial success with her second release, Andaaz from the same year, for which she won a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. Becoming the second woman to win the Filmfare Best Villain Award for her critically acclaimed performance in Abbas-Mustan's Aitraaz (2004), Chopra later went on to deliver commercial success with films like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Krrish (2006), her biggest commercial success so far, and Don - The Chase Begins Again (2006), establishing herself as a popular actress. Born in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand to Dr.Ashok Chopra and Dr.Madhu Akhauri, both doctors, Chopra spent her childhood in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Newton, Massachusetts and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her mother comes from a Bihari Kayastha family settled in Jamshedpur, while her father comes from a family of Punjabi origin, settled in Bareilly. She also has a brother, Siddharth, who is eight years younger than her. Since her father was in the Army, her family frequently moved. Chopra studied at St. Maria Goretti in Bareilly, as a young girl and later went to the United States, where she was a student at Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts and North Surrey Secondary School in Surrey, BC before returning to India to complete high school at Army School (Bareilly). She began college at Jai Hind College in Mumbai but left after winning the Miss World pageant. Chopra was crowned Miss India World and later Miss World in 2000. In the same year, Lara Dutta and Dia Mirza, both from India, won the Miss Universe and Miss Asia Pacific crowns, in a rare triple. When she won the Miss World crown, she became the fifth Indian woman to win the title, and the fourth Indian woman to win in a span of seven years. Her most recent releases, Fashion and Dostana, however, have succeeded at the box office, and her performance in the former garnered her critical acclaim.

1st runner-up Italy - Giorgia Palmas
2nd runner-up Turkey - Yüksel Ak

Finalists

 Kazakhstan - Margarita Kravtsova
 Uruguay - Katja Thomsen

Semi-finalists

 Chile - Isabel Bawlitza
 Colombia - Andrea Durán
 Kenya - Yolande Masinde
 Ukraine - Alena Scherban
 United States - Angelique Breaux

Continental Queens of Beauty
Africa Yolanda Masinde (Kenya)
Americas: Katja Thomsen (Uruguay)
Asia: Priyanka Chopra (India)
Europe: Giorgia Palmas (Italy)
Caribbean Isles: Jozaine Marianella Wall (Curaçao)

Special Awards
Best World Dress Designer: Margarita Kravtsova (Kazakhstan)

***Two delegates were later runners-up at the Miss Earth 2001 pageant. Margarita Kravtsova (a finalist) placed second runner-up at Miss Earth and third runner-up was Daniella Stucan, who was unplaced at Miss World 2000. Stucan later competed at Miss Universe 2007 where she was also unplaced.

***Angelique Breaux (United States) was Miss California USA 1999 and second runner-up at Miss USA 1999.

A native of Mulund, Mumbai, Mookhey was crowned Miss World in December 1999 at the Olympia theatre in London. Mookhey's family is from northern India, but she and her family lived in the Middle East until Mookhey was seven years of age. The Mookhey family migrated back to Mumbai (then Bombay) in June 1986. Mookhey's mother Aruna runs a grooming workshop in Mumbai, while her father was a clothing company executive. Mookhey studied zoology at Kelkar college prior to winning the Miss World competition. Mookhey has a diploma in computer sciences and has studied Hindustani classical music. Mookhey is an active member of the right-wing organization BJP. Yukta and Prince Tuli, a 33-year-old ex financial analyst from New York, were engaged on September 7, 2008 at the Grand Maratha in Mumbai. Prince is the son of Bachetar and Harminder Kaur Tuli. Prince’s family owns a business empire in central India that runs into Logistics, Hotels, Malls, Education, and Construction Equipment. The two got married on November 2, 2008. The wedding was a traditional 'Sikh' ceremony which took place at a Gurudwara in Nagpur, which also happens to the Prince's hometown. A grand reception was organized the same evening at the Tuli International hotel in Nagpur. Mika Singh along with his troupe of 14 people performed at the pre wedding cocktail and sangeet party. Prince Tuli danced on stage with Mika. The 49th Miss World pageant was held on 4 December 1999 at London's Olympia Hall. The pageant was hosted by Ulrika Jonsson and model Melanie Sykes. The 1999 pageant attracted 94 delegates from all over the world. The 1999 pageant also marked the first time that Scotland and Wales fielded their respective delegates.

1st runner-up Venezuela - Martina Thorogood
2nd runner-up South Africa - Sonia Raciti

Finalists

 Israel - Genny Chervoney
 Liberia - Sebah Tubman

Semi-finalists

 Croatia - Ivana Petković
 Estonia - Karin Laasmae
 Norway - Anette Haukaas
 Spain - Lorena Bernal
 United States - Natasha Allas

Continental Queen
Africa: Sonia Raciti - South Africa
Americas: Martina Thorogood - Venezuela
Asia and Oceania: Yukta Mookhey - India
Caribbean: Desiree Depass - Jamaica
Europe: Genny Chervoney - Israel

Special Award
Best Designed Evening Dress: Genny Chervoney - Israel

***Preliminary swimsuits were held in Malta for the second time after 12 years.

***This is the first time that the contestants were introduced in evening gowns. Israel, Jenny Chervoney (placed 4th in Miss World 1999) won the Best Evening Dress Award.

Linor Abargil is an Israeli model, who was the winner of the Miss World beauty pageant in 1998, after she had been crowned Miss Israel. She is 176 cm (5 ft 9 1/4 in) tall. Two months before being crowned Miss World, Abargil was raped in Italy by an Israeli Shlomo Nur, who was working as a travel agent in Milan. She made her case public and Nur was arrested in Israel, charged with and found guilty of rape. Abargil called for other women to follow her example. February 2006 newspapers announced that Lithuanian basketball superstar Šarunas Jasikevicius proposed to Linor Abargil, and the two started planning their wedding. Soon after Ynetnews announced that Baruch Marzel, the Chairman of the Jewish National Front party, wrote a letter to Linor Abargil Jasikevicius, in which he called on her to turn down Šarunas' marriage proposal unless he converts. Abargil and Jasikevicius married in a ceremony near Barcelona, Spain, in July, 2006. In 2007-2008 Linor Abargil added Šarunas' surname to her own name, now she is - Linor Abargil Jasikevicius.

1st runner-up France - Véronique Caloc
2nd runner-up Malaysia - Lina Teoh

Finalists

Czech Republic - Alena Šeredová
 South Africa - Kerishnie Naicker

Semi-finalists

 Brazil - Adrianna Reis
 Chile - Daniella Campos
 Jamaica - Christine Straw
 Peru - Mariana Larrabure
 United States - Shauna Gambill

Continental Queens
Africa: Kerishnie Naicker (South Africa)
Americas: Daniella Campos (Chile)
Asia and Oceania: Lina Teoh (Malaysia)
Caribbean: Christine Straw (Jamaica)
Europe: Linor Abargil (Israel)

***Ghana slipped down on stage during the Day Wear Presentation in the finals.

***This is the first time that Miss World had a presentation on Day Wear, while the presentation for the national dress was annihilated. Australia, Sarah-Jane St. Clair won the award.

***Republic of China changed the name on its sash to Chinese Taipei.

***United States, Shauna Gambill, was also Miss California Teen USA 1994 and Miss California USA 1998. She competed at Miss Teen USA 1994 where she won the title and placed 1st runner up at Miss USA 1998. She is the first Miss Teen USA winner to compete in Miss World.

Hayden is of Anglo-Indian descent. As a teenager, she was a tomboy, tall and gangly. She went to St.Anns High School, Secunderabad but dropped out in the 8th standard to take family responsibilities. She continued her studies through open schooling and correspondence and graduated from Osmania University in English. Before modeling, she used to work for an Event management company called Encore. She then worked as a Public relations officer at BMG Crescendo where she managed careers for models Anaida and Mehnaz. After Anaida's recommendation, she filled in for the Miss India contest. After winning Miss India she proceeded to win the coveted Miss World title. Hayden came into limelight at the 1997 Miss World pageant. She became a celebrity at 24 after winning the crown. Hayden became the third Indian woman to win the Miss World pageant. Like Aishwarya Rai, she entered Bollywood acting career in the Indian film industry and internationally. She became the third Miss World from India after Reita Faria and Aishwarya Rai. After trying to make a mark in Bollywood, Hayden moved to Los Angeles, California and devoted herself to social causes. In 2008, Diana Hayden became a wild card entry on the popular Indian show, Bigg Boss, which is based on the original UK show, Big Brother. She was voted out from Bigg Boss 2 house on the episode that aired on Nov 7th 2008. Following her tenure as the global representative for the prestigious Miss World organization, Hayden moved to the UK and studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She also studied at Drama Studio London, where she concentrated on the works of Shakespeare and earned a Best Actress nomination from the studio. In 2001, she made her screen debut in the film version of Shakespeare’s Othello in South Africa. In 2005, the History Channel did a three-month series, Biography with Diana Hayden. In addition to featuring prominent world leaders, Hollywood actors and sports champions, the series also included special monthly interviews with Indian celebrities. The engagement, which marked the first time the History Channel had signed an Indian host for one of its shows, was rated one of the most successful educational television programs of the year. In 2006, Diana was signed by the Avalon Aviation Academy as the face of the Academy and currently serves as a celebrity guest lecturer for airline personnel training programs. In 2008 she was a contestant in reality Big Boss 2.

1st runner-up New Zealand - Lauralee Martinovich
2nd runner-up South Africa - Jessica Motaung

Finalists

 Turkey - Çağla Şikel
 Thailand - Tanya Suesuntisook

Semi-finalists

 Australia - Laura Csortan
 Lebanon - Joëlle Buhlok
 Malaysia - Arianna Teoh
 United Kingdom - Vicki-Lee Walberg
 United States - Sallie Toussaint

Continental Queens

Africa: Jessica Motaung (South Africa)

Americas: Sallie Toussaint (United States)

Asia and Oceania: Diana Hayden (India)

Caribbean: Michelle Moodie (Jamaica)

Europe: Çağla Şıkel (Turkey)

A Greek native Irene Skliva won the 1996 Miss World. After winning the title "Miss Hellas" at the Miss Star Hellas pageant, she represented Greece in Bangalore, India during the highly-regarded Miss World contest in 1996. Afterwards the 18-year-old said she didn't quite believe it was real: "I had the feeling it was just another rehearsal - in the rehearsals, in one rehearsal, they'd used me as the mock winner". After completing her year as Miss World, Skliva returned to Greece where she pursued a career in television and modeling, her face appearing on the covers of numerous Greek magazines such as Diva and LipStick. She has participated in some of the world's largest fashion shows in Athens, Milan and Munich. She is currently represented by Ace Models Agency. She was married in September 2002 and had her first child, a daughter, in July 2003. During the 2004 Summer Olympics, Skliva (like numerous other celebrities) left her signature on The Olive: The Tree of Athens, a sculptured olive tree located in the Water Plaza fun park which visitors flooded during the games, that represented the homecoming of the Olympics.

1st runner-up Colombia - Carolina Arango
2nd runner-up Brazil - Anuska Prado

Finalists

 India - Rani Jeyraj
 Venezuela - Ana Cepinska

Semi-finalists

 Aruba - Afranina Henriques
 Belgium - Laurence Borremans
 Dominican Republic - Idelsa Núñez
 Mexico - Yessica Salazar
 South Africa - Peggy-Sue Khumalo

Special Awards
Miss Personality: Daisy Reyes (Philippines)
Most Photogenic: Ana Cepinska (Venezuela)
Spectacular Dress: Anuska Prado (Brazil)
Spectacular Beach Wear: Yessica Salazar (Mexico)
Spectacular Evening Wear: Rani Jeyraj (India)

Queens of Beauty
Africa: Peggy-Sue Khumalo (South Africa)
Americas: Carolina Arango (Colombia)
Asia and Oceania: Rani Jeyraj (India)
Caribbean: Afranina Henriques (Aruba)
Europe: Irene Skliva (Greece)

***Preliminaries in Miss World 1996 were shot in India and in Seychelles because of the feminine protests that occur in India against the Miss World beauty pageant.

Nineteen-year-old Jacqueline Aguilera was one of 112 Miss World contestants who gathered together in spectacular Sun City, South Africa, for the 1995 pageant. A university student from Nueva Esparta, Jacqueline was 19 years old when she won the coveted crown. She also took home the Miss Photogenic Award. Her first words as Miss World 1995 were: "I am very happy with my triumph; now what I desire the most is a united world fighting for progress, for the sake of the future of our planet". Since winning Miss World, Jacqueline has stayed in the modeling and promotions business. She now runs her own agency in Valencia, ‘Instituto Jacqueline Aguilera', searching for the faces of the future.

1st runner-up Croatia - Anica Martinović
2nd runner-up Trinidad & Tobago - Michelle Khan

Finalists

 Israel - Miri Bohadana
 Korea - Choi Yoon-young

Semi-finalists

 Australia - Melissa Porter
 Bolivia - Carla Morón
 Bulgaria - Evgenia Kalkandzhieva
 Mexico - Alejandra Quintero
 South Africa - Bernelee Daniell

Special Awards
Miss Photogenic: Jacqueline Aguilera (Venezuela)
Best Designed National Dress: Anica Martinović (Croatia)
Miss Personality: Toyin Raji (Nigeria)

Continental Queens
Africa: Bernelee Daniell (South Africa)
Americas: Jacqueline Aguilera (Venezuela)
Asia and Oceania: Choi Yoon-young (Korea)
Caribbean: Michelle Khan (Trinidad & Tobago)
Europe: Anica Martinović (Croatia)

***This is the first time that the awards for Best Evening Wear and Best Swimwear were given. Ghana won the Best Evening Wear award, while Israel won the Best Swimwear Award.

Probably the most successful Miss World title holders, Rai won the Miss World crown in 1994 the same year that her fellow country girl Sushmita Sen won Miss Universe. After relinquished her crown, Rai made her movie debut in Mani Ratnam's Tamil film Iruvar (1997) opposite Mohanlal. She had her first commercial success in the Tamil movie Jeans (1998), and came to the attention of Bollywood in the Hindi movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Her performance in the film won her the Filmfare Best Actress Award, and she successfully performed in Bhansali's next project, Devdas (2002), for which she won her second Best Actress Award at the Filmfare. Since then, she has acted in over forty movies in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and English, including the international productions Bride & Prejudice (2003), Mistress of Spices (2005), and The Last Legion (2007) in English. The first woman from India to ever judge the Cannes International Film Festival, Rai is now the face of Bollywood. She She is now married to Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan. The wedding took place on 20 April 2007.

1st runner-up South Africa - Basetsane Makgalemele
2nd runner-up Venezuela - Irene Ferreira

Finalists

 Croatia - Branka Bebić
 Zimbabwe - Angeline Musasiwa

Semi-finalists

 Belgium - Ilse De Meulemeester
 Greece - Evangelia Adam
 Malaysia - Rahima Orchient Yayah
 Philippines - Caroline Subijano
 United Kingdom - Melanie Abdoun

Special Awards

Miss Personality: Patinya Thongsri (Thailand)
Miss Photogenic: Aishwarya Rai - (India)
Best National Costume: Irene Ferreira (Venezuela)

Continental Queens
Africa: Basetsane Makgalemele (South Africa)
Americas: Irene Ferreira (Venezuela)
Asia & Oceania: Aishwarya Rai (India)
Caribbean: Anita Lilly Bush (Cayman Islands)
Europe: Branka Bebić (Croatia)

Lisa Hanna was the third Jamaican to win the Miss World title. She won the title in 1993 in Sun City, South Africa at 18 years old. Hanna had a small role in How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and she has hosted the popular Jamaican talk show, Our Voices. Lisa migrated to the U.S. in 2004 to pursue a career in broadcasting and was a guest presenter on the entertainment show Xtra. However, in late 2005, she relocated back to Jamaica and has been the communications consultant for the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston, the financial hub of Kingston. One of Jamaica's most beloved beauty queens, Hanna went to the Queen's School in Kingston and is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, where she successfully pursued a Bachelors and Masters degree in Communications. She is of African & Lebanese ancestry. During June 2007, she was catapulted into the public's eyes again when the ruling political party, People National Party announced her as a candidate for key constituency for the country's next general election which was constitutionally due in October 2007. However Hanna's selection by the People National Party for the vacant South East St. Ann constituency has drawn the ire of her potential constituents. It has also sparked intense public discussions about the timing, her eligibility and her capability of functioning as a politician. After almost a week of protests by the constituents it was revealed that Hanna's name is not on the voters list. However, it was later revealed by the electorial office of Jamaica that this would not prevent Hanna from running as MP. As persons do not have to be on the voters list to run for Member of Parliament. Hanna's selection to represent the ruling Peoples National Party in the upcoming general election may prove to be a catastrophe in what is believed to be the safest non garrison seat for the governing party. It was reported that the former Miss World was handpicked by Prime Minister of Jamaica Hon. Portia Simpson Miller to represent the constituency. However, since the announcement Hanna as been the center of a public debate and protests by members of the constituency, as they claim Hanna does not live or work in the area. On September 3, 2007, Lisa Hanna went on to win the South Eastern St. Ann constituency by 2678 votes over the JLP's Peter Fakhourie. This was a bitter and sweet victory for Hanna however as the Peoples National Party that she represents went on to lose their first general election after 18 years. Hanna was viewed as a possible Minister of Tourism if her party was victorious, She will however be sitting on the opposition side during her tenure as member of parliament.

1st Runner Up South Africa - Palesa Jacqueline Mofokeng
2nd Runner Up Philippines - Ruffa Gutierrez

Finalist

 Croatia - Fani Capalija
 Venezuela - Mónica Lei Scaccia

Semifinalist

 Finland - Janina Frostell
 France - Véronique de la Cruz
 Korea - Seung-yeon Lee
 Sweden - Karen Victoria Silvstedt
 United States - Maribeth Brown

Continental Queens
Africa: Palesa Jacqueline Mofokeng - South Africa
Americas: Mónica Lei Scaccia - Venezuela
Asia and Oceania: Sharmaine Ruffa Rama Gutierrez - Philippines
Caribbean: Lisa Hanna - Jamaica
Europe: Fani Capalija - Croatia

Special Awards
Best Costume: Karminder Kaur-Virk (India)
Photogenic: Barbara Chiappini (Italy)
Personality: Charlotte Als (Denmark)

***Czechoslovakia was no longer existing as two countries (Czech Republic and Slovakia) competed in Miss World.

***This is the first that a contestant who received the "Queen of Caribbean" award won the Miss World title.

Julia Alexandrovna Kourotchkina, Miss Russia, a voluptuous 1.8-metre-blonde, was crowned Miss World 1992 amid an extravaganza of glitz in the first pageant held at South Africa's Sun City desert resort. Eighteen-year-old Kurotchkina beat Miss United Kingdom Claire Smith, 21, by a margin of one point, the closest in the 42-year history of the pageant. The crowning of Miss Russia was a coup for South African leisure magnate Sol Kerzner, who brought the Miss World pageant to Africa for the first time as part of the opening celebration of his 830 million rand ($275 million) Lost City hotel complex here.When Kourotchkina was asked by veteran British TV journalist Alan Whicker whether she thought beauty contests were demeaning to women, she replied with a giggly smile: "Everybody loves women." It was an answer which won her over $90,000 worth of prizes and world's most coveted beauty title.

The runners-up were: 
1st runner-up: Claire Elizabeth Smith (United Kingdom)
2nd runner-up: Francis del Valle Gago Aponte (Venezuela)

Finalists: 
3rd runner-up: Ewa Wachowicz (Poland)
4th runner-up: Amy Kleinhans (South Africa)

The delegates who made in the top ten are:

Jody Barbara Weech (Bahamas), Anja Hende Brond (Denmark), Petra Enrika von Hellens (Finland), Ravit Asaf (Israel), and Sharon Flynn Belden (United States).

Special awards
Best National Costume: Nina Khilji (Canada)
Personality: Ana Maria Johanis Iglesias (Guatemala)
Photogenic: Ravit Asaf (Israel)

Continental Queens
Africa: Amy Kleinhans - South Africa
America: Francis del Valle Gago Aponte - Venezuela
Asia & Oceania: Metinee Kingpayome - Thailand
Caribbean: Jody Barbara Weech - Bahamas
Europe: Julia Alexandrovna Kourotchkina - Russia

***1992 marked the first year that no Asian country made it into the Top 10 in Miss World. Israel, which made it into the Top 10, competed as part of Europe in Miss World since 1989.

***The preliminary scores in Miss World were no longer presented.

***Philippine representative Marina Santos Benipayo was a last minute replacement for original representative Marilen Espino who had to withdraw due to illness just days before her departure.

1991 was an interesting year for the Miss World contest which, after last-minute scheduling the pageant was held in Atlanta, Georgia. Good news was that South Africa was back in the pageant after an absence of some 13 years and its representative, the lovely Diana Tilden-Davis, sailed in as second runner up. The judges, however, thought Venezuelan Ninibeth was the loveliest of all the contestants and she certainly accepted the crown with that regal mix of grace and joy. After her year of world travel Ninibeth fast realised that she could choose to live anywhere she chose. She eventually got married to an Australian model. Now an Australian citizen, she resides in that country with her husband, Travers Beynon and two children, Luciano and Valentina.

1st runner-up Australia - Leanne Buckle
2nd runner-up South Africa - Diana Tilden-Davis

Finalists

 Jamaica - Sandra Foster
 Namibia - Michelle McLean

Semi-finalists

 France - Mareva Georges
 India - Ritu Singh
 New Zealand - Lisa Maree de Montalk
 Turkey - Dilek Aslihan Koruyan
 United States - Charlotte Ray

Continental Queens
Africa: Diana Tilden-Davis - South Africa
America: Ninibeth Beatriz Leal Rodriguez - Venezuela
Asia & Oceania: Leanne Buckle - Australia
Caribbean: Sandra Foster - Jamaica
Europe: Dilek Aslihan Koruyan - Turkey

***No Awards Given This Year

***Miss World 1991 was scheduled to be held in the Dominican Republic. Due to scheduling difficulties, Miss World was first moved to Puerto Rico, then to Atlanta, USA.

***Preliminary swimsuits in Miss World 1991 were held in South Africa.

***This was also the first time that no European country made into the finals for crowning.

Gina Marie Tolleson won the title of Miss South Carolina USA 1990 and was 1st runner up at Miss USA 1990. She went on to win the Miss World beauty pageant in 1990, representing the United States. She later went on to meet television personality Alan Thicke when she hosted the 1992 Miss World USA pageant. Shortly afterwards, the two were married. They had a son, Carter Thicke in July 1997, divorcing in 1999. Gina became executive editor of Santa Barbara Magazine in 2002. She married Christian Wiesenthal in 2003 and have two sons, Luca, born September 2005 and Tiago, born December 2006. Gina was also the first Miss World to host and give up the crown in the same stage. She along with British television personality Peter Marshall hosted the 1991 pageant from World Congress Center in Atlanta.

The runners-up were: 
1st runner-up: Siobhan McClafferty (Ireland)
2nd runner-up: Sharon Raquel Luengo Gonzalez (Venezuela)

Finalists: 
3rd runner-up: Nina Björkfelt (Finland)
4th runner-up: Adele Valerie Kenny (New Zealand)

The delegates who made in the top ten are:

Gwendolyne Charlotte Kwidama (Aruba), Gabrielle Stap (Holland), Erica Aquart (Jamaica), Ewa Maria Szymczak (Poland), and Julide Ates (Turkey).

Special awards
Miss Personality: Sabina Ifeoma Umeh (Nigeria)
Most Photogenic: Sharon Raquel Luengo Gonzalez (Venezuela)

Continental Queens
Africa: Aisha Wawira Lieberg - Kenya
America: Gina Tolleson - United States
Asia & Oceania: Adele Kenny - New Zealand
Caribbean: Erica Aquart - Jamaica
Europe: Siobhan McClafferty - Ireland

***Preliminary swimsuits in Miss World 1990 were held in Norway.

Aneta Beata Kreglicka won the Miss World contest on 22 November 1989 in Hong Kong, representing Poland. She became the first woman from Poland to win the title in the first Miss World to be held outside England. In the same year, she also landed as first runner-up in the Miss International pageant, held in Kanazawa, Japan. In 2006, she took part in a popular world show, the third season of the Polish version of Dancing With The Stars. She was also one of the judges in Miss World 2006 pageant, which was held in Poland. She graduated economy at Gdansk University and started studying on Szkola Glówna Handlowa in Poland (Warsaw School of Economics).

1st runner-up Canada - Leanne Caputo
2nd runner-up Colombia - Monica Maria Isaza Mejia

Finalists

 Thailand - Prathumrat Woramali
 United States - Jill Renee Scheffert

Semi-finalists

 American Virgin Islands - Vanessa Thomas
 Australia - Natalie Tania McCurry
 Ireland - Barbara Ann Curran
 Mauritius - Jeanne Françoise Nathalie Clement
 United Kingdom - Suzanne Younger

Special Awards
Personality: Greet Ramaekers - Belgium
Photogenic: Anna Gorbunova - U.S.S.R

Continental Queens
Africa: Jeanne-Françoise Clement - Mauritius
Americas: Leanne Caputo - Canada
Asia: Prathumrat Woramali - Thailand
Caribbean: Vania Thomas - American Virgin Islands
Europe: Aneta Beata Kreglicka - Poland
Oceania: Natalie Tania McCurry - Australia

***This is the first time that Miss World was held overseas, in the city of Hong Kong.

***This is also the first time that the award for the "Queen of Caribbean" was included.

***The Miss World 1989 Parade of Nations introduced the contestants with their national costumes and evening gowns for the first time.