59th. Miss World 2009 on December 12th. 2009

Johannesburg, Dec 12 (LiveIndia.com) Amidst great fanfare the Miss World 2009 was crowned. The winner Miss Gibraltar Kaiane Aldorino looked very pretty in a regal gown that showed off her beautiful body. The first runner up was Miss Mexico Perla Beltrán. And the 2nd runner up was unsurprisingly the host country’s beauty queen, Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar.

Julia Morley, who organizes the Miss World pageant since the last 25 years announced the winners and as per convention, she announced them in the reverse order. When she announced the titles, then the pretty winner walked up to the centre of the dais and was congratulated by an ex-Miss World Priyanka Chopra who kissed the winner and presented them with a bouquet and then they sashayed down the ramp in an regal aura.

During the Question Answer round, Miss Gibraltar was asked that where would she take her family in Johannesburg? She replied that she would take her family to a lot of places in Africa and with in Johannesburg she would take them to the Lions Park.

Miss Columbia was asked that, what did she learn about the wildlife in Africa? She replied that she learnt about the endangered species like the cheetah, rhinos amongst others. She also said that there was one more endangered species but she forgot the name.

Miss Panama was asked about her most memorable day during the Miss World 2009 pageant. She replied that she celebrated her birthday during the 1 month long Miss World 2009 pageant and it was certainly a very memorable day for her. She made friends from 6-7 continents and all of them sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her in their own dialect.

Miss Canada was asked that why she would make a Good Miss World? She replied that she thinks that any good Miss World should have compassion, be kind and be selfless too. And she has being taught all these qualities by her parents from an early age.

Miss Mexico was asked that what has she learnt about herself in this 1 month of the pageant? She replied that she had learnt to value friendship more and that each one has something in their hearts to share with all the others.

Miss Gibraltar was asked that where would she take her family in Johannesburg? She replied that she would take her family to a lot of places in Africa and with in Johannesburg she would take them to the Lions Park.

Miss South Africa was asked that what memories would she take, from all these contestants who visited her home country? She replied that she had a wonderful collection of memories. That despite coming from different cultures and regardless of all their background, they all want to make some contribution to the world that they leave behind.

Miss France was asked that how would she describe Johannesburg when she went back to her own country? She blabbered away, that Johannesburg has a very good history and that she would want to share that history with the entire world.

8th December
Some things you might not know about Miss World
1. Miss World is the longest running major international beauty pageant, with the first taking place in 1951.

2. Its founder, Eric Morley, initiated the event in response to the Festival of Britain under way across the Thames.  It has since grown into one of the biggest and best known events in the world.

3. More than one million women apply every year to take part in the national competitions, in the hope of becoming Miss World.

4. More than 160 countries across almost six decades have participated in Miss World.

5. The Miss World event was first televised in full in 1959.

6. Though originally held in the UK, the Miss World finals have also taken place across the world, including Hong Kong, India, South Africa, USA, the Seychelles, Poland and China.

7. Although Venezuela and India have produced the most Miss Worlds, with 5 titleholders each. Europe has performed the best of all continents in Miss World, claiming 25 titles.

8. The Miss World crown was made by Garrards, jewellers of Queen Elizabeth II, and the crown is Miss World’s symbol of fundraising.

9. The first winner was Sweden’s Kiki Håkansson. She is also the longest reigning Miss World, holding the title for 16 months.

10. In 1951, Sweden’s Kiki Håkansson became the first ever Miss World.  The following year, Sweden won again with May Louise Flodin. Only the United Kingdom (in 1964 and 1965) and India (in 1999 and 2000) have also had consecutive winners.

11. In 1983 Sarah Jane Hutt from Weston Super Mare took the title for the UK.  No other UK entrant has won since.

12. Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry represented the USA and was runner-up at Miss World in 1986.

13. Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai won the Miss World title in 1994, followed by Priyanka Chopra in 2000.

14. TV’s Wonder Woman Lynda Carter, Maggie Cheung, the first Asian actress to win a prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and acclaimed action star Michelle Yeoh all reached the Miss World finals.

15. Along with Halle Berry (Die Another Day) and Michelle Yeoh (Tomorrow Never Dies), no less than 11 Miss World finalists have gone on to appear in Bond films.  [Dr No – Michelle Mok (Hong Kong, 1958). Thunderball – Claudine Auger (France, first runner-up 1958). Diamonds Are Forever - Denise Perrier (France, Miss World 1953). The Spy Who Loved Me – Eva Rueber-Staier (Austria, Miss World 1969); she would go on to reprise her role in For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy). Octopussy – Mary Stavin (Sweden, Miss World 1977) and Carolyn Seaward (United Kingdom, first runner-up 1979). A View to a Kill – Lou-Anne Ronchi (Australia, second runner-up 1984) and Mary Stavin (Sweden, Miss World 1977). The Living Daylights – Ruddy Rodriguez (Venezuela, finalist 1985).]

16. It was pure chance that reigning Miss World Ksenia Sukhinova entered the Miss Russia event: she was walking into a Moscow metro station when she was approached by a famous Russian photographer, suggesting she enter.

17. Julia Morley founded Miss World’s Beauty With a Purpose charitable theme. She was recently elected the first British woman international president of Variety, The Children’s Charity.

18. Miss World has brought substantial tourism to every country that has hosted it, with significant boosts to tourist numbers and increased international trade during and directly following the Miss World Festival.

19. Miss World was held continuously in the United Kingdom from 1951 to 1988. Since that time, South Africa has hosted the event seven times and Sanya, China, has hosted the event four times.

20. Next year marks the 60th Miss World Final, a series of celebrations are planned. The 2010 final will be held in Vietnam.