Finally, China!

Zi Lin Zhang, a stunning 23-year-old business administration graduate from the People’s Republic of China, bested 105 other global beauties to win the 57^th annual Miss World contest. Zhang’s victory makes history in more ways than one. She is now the first international Grand Slam titleholder from her country, and more importantly, the first Asian woman NOT from India to capture the elusive Miss World title.

1^st Runner-Up is Angola’s Micaela Reis, a Miss Universe 2007 semi-finalist who overcame the odds and outdid her previous placing, while 2^nd Runner-Up is Mexico’s Carolina Moran Gordillo, whose elegance and quiet competitiveness placed her high in the Beach Beauty and Top Model events prior to the finals.

Rounding up the five finalists are Trinidad and Tobago’s Valene Maharaj and a surprise finish from Sweden’s Annie Oliv.  It is interesting to note that although the Continental Queens of Beauty weren’t announced this year, the top five was still diversely represented by five different regions: Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe and the Caribbean.

Originally, there was to be a Top 15, but an unexpected tie in the Beauty with a Purpose award added one-semi-finalist. Completing the Top 16 were:  Dominican Republic’s Ada Aimee De La Cruz, Jamaica’s Yendi Phillipps, Malaysia’s Deborah Henry, United States’ Abigail McCary, Puerto Rico’s Jennifer Guevara, Venezuela’s Claudia Paola Suarez, Austria’s Christine Reiler, Ghana’s Irene Dwomoh, and co-Beauty with a Purpose winners Ecuador’s Valeska Saab and Hong Kong’s Ka Yi Cheung.

Now, on to my thoughts….

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