China wins Miss World 2012

MANILA, Philippines – China’s Wen Xia Yu was crowned Miss World 2012 on Saturday, August 18, besting 115 other contestants from around the world.

Sophie Moulds (Miss Wales) and Jessica Kahawaty (Miss Australia) are 1st and 2nd runner-up, respectively.

Queenierich Rehman, the Philippines’ representative to the pageant, made it to the top 15 but failed to land a spot in the Top 7.

Rehman became one of the popular bets in the pageant after she performed a beatbox number during the pageant’s talent night. She also won the World Fashion Designer Award.

The coronation night was held at the Dongsheng Fitness Center Stadium in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia region.

While the popularity of the contest, first held in 1951, has waned in the West, continued interest in Asian countries ensures that the final rakes in a huge global television audience.

Venezuela has produced the most Miss Worlds, with six winners, while India and Britain claim five titles each.

China has already hosted the competition five times, most recently in 2010 on the tropical southern island of Hainan.

Here’s the full list of finalists and winners:

Miss World 2012 – China, Wen Xia Yu

1st Runner-up – Wales, Sophie Moulds

2nd Runner-up – Australia – Jessica Kahawaty

Top 7 Finalists:

Brazil, Mariana Notarangelo

India, Vanya Mishra

Jamaica, Deanna Robin

South Sudan, Atong Demach

Top 15 semi-finalists:

England, Charlotte Holmes

Indonesia, Ines Putri Tjiptadl Chandra

Kenya, Shamim Nabil

Mexico, Mariana Berumen

Netherlands, Nathalie den Dekker

Philippines, Queenierich Rehman

Spain, Aranzazu Estevez

United States, Claudine Book

 – Rappler.com, with report from Agence France-Presse