London, December 15 – South Africa’s Rolene Strauss bagged the prestigious title of Miss World 2014 on Sunday. The second spot went to Miss Hungary Edina Kulcsar and the third to Miss US Elizabeth Safrit.
It was a loss for India yet again as India’s candidate Koyal Rana, despite showing a lot of promise during the initial rounds, could not bag the coveted title. 125 contestants from all over the world vied for the crown, making it among the biggest turnout in the pageant’s history.
Miss World 2013 Megan Young of Philippines crowned her successor at the end of this event. The beauty contest was hosted by Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Welsh actor and television presenter Tim Vincent and Mr World Canada 2013 and Miss World 2014 web presenter Frankie Cena.
American singer Skyler Austen Gordy, also known as Sky Blu, performed during the grand finale. The Grammy award-nominated singer opened the ceremony with his latest single We Love Girls.
While the Miss World 2013 peagent was mired by protests by Islamic hardliners who were against it’s being held in Indonesia, this year it was the brutal murder of young and beautiful Miss Honduras Maria Jose Alvarado that spread a cloud of gloom over the contest.
This year’s Miss World was significant because it was a homecoming for the event that began in London 63 years ago. Traditionally Miss World lives in London during her reign.
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley’s wife, Julia Morley, co-chairs the pageant.
-INDIA TODAY
