The 57th edition of the contest was held on World AIDS Day as organisers wanted the annual showcase of gloss and glitz, seen by critics as a sexist throwback, to help increase awareness of the fight against HIV/AIDS.Pre-contest favourite Miss China won the Miss World 2007 title in her own country on Saturday, much to the delight of the audience, in front of an estimated two billion viewers around the globe.
Twenty-three-year-old Zhang Zi Lin was crowned the winner in Sanya, China.
The secretary from Beijing was the pre-contest favourite. Miss Angola came second and Miss Mexico third at the beauty pageant. The other two finalists were Valene Maharaj from Trinidad & Tobago and Annie Oliv from Sweden.
Two billion people in 200 countries were expected to tune in to watch the show, which saw Miss China take the crown ahead of 105 of the world's most beautiful and talented women.
At 182 centimetres (six feet), Miss China was also the tallest contestant. "There are 1.3 billion people behind me," Miss China said during the 40-second interview stage of the contest, referring to her country's population.
"If I win I want to become a link between the Olympic Games (in Beijing next year) and the Miss World Organisation."
"I want to use the power and beauty of Miss World to support those in need," she said, speaking throughout in hesitant English, adding a few words in Chinese.
Contestants were rated on an array of disciplines including physical fitness, style, dress, personality and beauty.
The TV spectacular was hosted by top Chinese TV presenter Angela Chow, presenting Miss World for the fifth year in succession, alongside co-host Fernando Allende, who is one of Latin America’s biggest stars and was making his Miss World debut.
One of the highlights came when Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, introduced his grandfather’s televised message for World Aids Day.
Miss World – The Final is the World’s largest live annual TV event with global viewing figures topping two billion across 174 countries.
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