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.
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.
