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Miss World History And 21 Century

Miss World started as the Festival Bikini Contest, in honour of the recently introduced swimwear of the time, but was called Miss World by the press. It was originally planned as a one-off event. Upon learning about the upcoming Miss Universe pageant, Morley decided to make the pageant an annual event.

Opposition to the wearing of bikinis led to their replacement with more modest swimwear after the first contest. In 1959, the BBC started broadcasting the competition. The pageant's popularity grew as the popularity of television grew.

In the 1980s, the pageant repositioned itself with the slogan Beauty With a Purpose. The contest added tests of intelligence and personality. By the 1990s, the pageant was reaching two billion viewers from almost every country in the world. However, the competition has been seen as old-fashioned and rather politically incorrect in its native Britain. Despite the global appeal, the show was not broadcasted on any major terrestrial British TV network for several years, until Channel Five aired it in 1998.

Eric Morley, The Founder of Miss World

In 1951 Eric Morley had been working for the Mecca Group for almost five years. It had been, in many ways, a tough time for everyone; the Second World War had ended only six years previously, but Eric had the foresight to see the new mood of optimism that was starting to sweep the country.

At the time, he was managing the Lyceum Ballroom in the Strand and, when it was announced that the Festival of Britain was being held on the South Bank, just across the Thames, he began to wonder how he could capitalise on this huge event which was taking place virtually on his doorstep.

He realised that the answer was simple - he would encourage visitors to the Festival of Britain, to cross Waterloo Bridge, by hosting a beauty contest at his dancehall.

Not just any old beauty contest though; this competition had to be on par with the celebrations taking place on the South Bank and so he came up with the ambitious idea of finding the most beautiful woman in the world.

And so Miss World was born. A competition that has grown into one of the world's biggest and most loved events.

Who could have guessed that it would also become one of the country's biggest generators of money for children's charities? It has now raised an incredible $250,000,000 thanks to the theme "Beauty with a Purpose," that was created by Julia Morley 25 years ago. This incredible success is largely because of the extremely strong and popular Miss World brand that has developed over the last 53 years - success that can be measured, by the fact that Miss World is now franchised in more than 140 countries.

Miss World! New Century

Miss World reaches its half century in 2000 as the contest returned to London, at the Millennium Dome, for the 50th anniversary show.

A massive television audience of 2.3 billion witnessed India retain the Miss World crown. In the UK over 8 million people tuned in during the 2 hour broadcast on Channel 5.

And so to the present day. The current Miss World Agbani Darego from Nigeria is the first ever black African winner. Agbani has enjoyed tremendous success as Miss World and this has prompted the bid, which has taken the Miss World Final in 2002, to Abuja, Nigeria.

With Julia Morley as Chairman, Miss World is now in it's 57th year and it continues to confound all the critics with its success. Already a record number of countries (over 100) have signed up to broadcast the show live and still breaking records.

With franchises now in over 120 countries and fundraising topping £150 million, who knows what the next 50 years will bring for Britain's most successful ever International Television Show.

Miss World 2000~Priyanka Chopra

Miss India Priyanka Chopra (18) won the Miss World 2000 title at London's Millennium Dome in London.

This was the 50th anniversary of the Miss World contest. The first runner-up was Miss Italy, the second runner-up was Miss Turkey. The five finalists were Miss India, Miss Kazakhstan, Miss Italy, Miss Uruguay and Miss Turkey.

In the semi-final round, Chopra said that there was always pressure and she worked best under pressure, when asked if she was under extra pressure.

It was India's fifth Miss World title.

Miss World 2001~Agbani Darego

'I Have Made History'. Eighteen year-old Nigerian girl becomes first black African to win the Miss World Beauty Crown.

Ever since Oluchi Onwuagba made head-lines with M-Net’s Face-of-Africa, beauty pageants have never been the same again, at least in Nigeria . A new sense of confidence emerged to replace timidity and the dark skin found prominence in beauty circles. Oluchi’s innocent face and inexperience in the world of glamour was profound even on cynics who see beauty pageant as morally bankrupt. She has since proved herself not only as a good ambassador but also as a role model.

Yet if the success story of Oluchi was phenomenal that of 18 years old Agbani Darego, a computer science undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt , was superlative. When Julia Morley, President of the beauty pageant announced Darego as the newly-crowned “Miss World 2001” at the capacity filled South Africa luxury casino resort of Sun City , Johannesburg , the applause was deafening. She beat 92 other contestants.

“I am so happy. It’s a wonderful feeling and it’s indescribable..I have made history..Black is beautiful,”she said.

Darego, undeniably had made history as the first black African to win the coveted crown since the annual event was established 51 years ago. “I know back home they were all watching out for me and I am happy I made them proud,” she said.

Miss World 2002 - Azra Akin

A 21 -year-old Turkish model and dancer took the Miss World crown in a contest moved to Britain from Nigeria after deadly Muslim-Christian riots sparked by controversy over the pageant.

"I am so happy and excited," Azra Akin, 21 , after winning the 2002 title and 100,000 pounds prize money ahead of Miss Colombia, Natalia Peralta, in second and Miss Peru, Marina Mora Montero, in third place.

"I hope to represent the women of the world in a good way," Akin said. The gala show in Alexandra Palace in London went ahead despite calls for its cancellation that followed last month's violence in Nigeria that killed more than 200 people.

One prominent British feminist had said the women would be parading in "swimwear dripping with blood" if the show went on, and about half a dozen competitors withdrew.

Akin, who was brought up in the Netherlands and lists belly-dancing and German flute-playing among her interests, said she had been "shocked" by the carnage in Nigeria but did not believe the Miss World event was responsible.

"I wish people in the world would be more respectful to each other," she added.

"People who think Miss World was to blame should research more about this competition, because we are doing great things."

Although taking place on a dank day in England, the show had an African flavor, with footage and interviews from Nigeria, where the 88 contestants had been based before the riots.

Miss World 2003~Marisol Gonzales Casas

The Best and Worst.

"Her stunning face seethes easily to any beauty-watcher. She can simply end the 12-year Miss Universe drought for her country."

So went our prediction that it itself went into a "drought." Marisol Gonzales Casas, Miss Universe-Mexico 2003 was chosen as our official bet thinking it will be time again for good ‘ol Mexico to shine. Mexico may be the giant among the Spanish speaking nations and perhaps maybe the most powerful. It may be the source of telenovelas that enchanted not only the region but other countries in different continents as well.

Panama successfully hosted one of the glitzy events of the year and there is no better way to conclude it all with their trans-Caribbean neighbor as the winner. Miss Universe 2003 beamed live to estimated billions of televiewers around the world and garnered excellent ratings in United States alone but what made the entire show entertaining?

With three segments: interviews, swimsuits and gowns, we picked who topped those and who hit rock bottom. The action onstage, perhaps the shiniest in history as countless nearly slipped (wonder if there was a floor wax sponsor), had us drooling for more!

"You don’t have to be phenomenal to do phenomenal things."

~Miss South Africa Cindy Nell taalking about her work with ex-South African President Nelson Mandela. One of the best ways to ace that interview is to insert brief phrases- brief but relevant.

"...I really don’t have an answer to this question."

~asked whether she would like to be fire or water, Serbia and Montenegro’s Sanja Papic tried to brilliantly get away from the trap of question but she made a fatal mistake by saying the above phrase. It would have been cute if she answers, "I’d prefer to be water since it could kill fire."

Miss World 2004~Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia

She gathered the highest number of internet/text votes and was crowned in the Beauty Crown Cultural Center in Sanya, China on the 4th of December, 2004. Completing her royal court are, first runner-up Miss Dominican Republic Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez and second runner-up Miss USA Nancy Randall. Miss Peru beat 106 other contestants to take the title as the 54th Miss World.

"I don't speak very good English. But the smiles of the people transcend language," she said through an interpreter.

The victorious Miss Peru is studying to be a high school teacher and enjoys painting, film and dance.

Miss World 2005~Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir

Miss Iceland, Unnur Birna, the daughter of the first Miss Iceland to have reached Miss World’s finals, back in 1983, was recently crowned Miss World 2005.

Her mom also felt she was in paradise as she called and told me the first words Unnur whispered in her ears after receiving the Miss World sash and crown:

“Mom, what have I done? I won!”. The new Miss World told her mom that she was very pleased with the other contestants’ reaction upon her victory. “They looked genuinely happy with my victory, this is all so incredible and nice”.

Miss World 2006~Tatanya Kucharova

Sat Sep 30, 2006 WARSAW - Miss Czech Republic took the Miss World crown on Saturday in Poland's capital Warsaw, the first city in ex-communist East Europe to host the pageant. Tatana Kucharova, a blue-eyed blonde wearing a tight-fitting white gown, fought back tears as the Miss World sash was draped over her shoulder and a glittering crown placed on her head. Kucharova blew kisses to the crowd and hugged her competitors, 103 women from five continents, but made no comments.

Miss Zambia would pay out US$24,000 on a $100 bet as does Miss St. Lucia, Miss Liberia, Miss Latvia and Miss Georgia.

"We've taken some slack for promoting Miss Ghana among the bottom of the barrel," said Payton O'Brien, Gambling911.com's resident Entertainment Reporter. "Interestingly enough her odds have been pushed up to +12000 (or US$12,000 paid out on a $100 bet)."

"All of these girls are beautiful but there is common denominator among the lower tier that really stands out, or shall we say doesn't stand out," O'Brien said.
"None of them seem to have breast implants compared to say the top favorites."