New Miss World Mireia Lalaguna Rozo of Spain reacts during the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, in southern China’s Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE
Mireia Lalaguna Rozo (C) of Spain is crowned by former Miss World Jolene Strauss after winning the new title at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, next to Miss Russia, Sofia Nikitchuk (L) and Miss World Indonesia, Maria Harfanti (R) in southern China’s Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE
Mireia Lalaguna Rozo of Spain reacts after winning the new title at the Miss World at the Grand Final in Sanya, in southern China’s Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE
Former Miss World Jolene Strauss (L) and Miss Russia, Sofia Nikitchuk hug during the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, in southern China’s Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE
Mireia Lalaguna Rozo (C) of Spain waves after winning the new title at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, next to Miss Russia, Sofia Nikitchuk (L) and Miss World Indonesia, Maria Harfanti (R) in southern China’s Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE
Catharina Choi Nunes, Miss World Brazil reacts after entering the semi final at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, in southern China’s Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE
Mireia Lalaguna Rozo (C) of Spain poses after winning the new title at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, next to Miss Russia, Sofia Nikitchuk (L) and Miss World Indonesia, Maria Harfanti (R) in southern China’s Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE
Albijona Muharremaj (C) Miss World Germany attends the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, in southern China’s Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE
Miss World contestants perform at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, southern China’s Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE
Spanish model Mireia Lalaguna was crowned Miss World 2015 late Saturday after beating out 113 contestants from across the globe on Saturday night at a coastal resort city in south China’s Hainan province.
The pageant’s second place was awarded to Russia’s Sofia Nikitchuk, while third place went to Indonesia’s Maria Harfanti.
Miss Thailand, the delightfully named Thanyachanok “French Fries” Moonninta, 22, of Chiang Mai, did not place in the final countdown. Her well-publicised tuk-tuk costume failed to win any votes for best national dress.
A second major pageant, Miss Universe, will be staged Monday morning (Thailand time) in Las Vegas. Miss Universe Thailand is Aniporn “Nat” Chalermburanawong, the 21-year-old beauty from Lampang.
The pharmacy student from Barcelona claimed the illustrious crown after winning over the contest’s judges during the 65th edition of the world famous pageant in China’s Sanya.
“Without the love I have received from all of the people I have met here, and from all of the people wishing me well and supporting me at home, I would never have gotten to this point,” said the beauty queen, according to a statement released by the event’s organisers.
“I want to show them and the world that I am deserving of the Miss World title and I hope to do everyone proud.”
However, the ceremony was not without controversy. Officials in Hong Kong last month stopped Miss Canada, Anastasia Lin, from boarding a plane bound for Sanya, telling her she would not receive a visa.
The 25-year old actress claimed the decision was due to her stance on China’s human rights record, including its persecution of Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual group of which she is a practitioner.
