Posted on 12/4/2004, 6:29:49 PM by M. Espinola
Bravo Miss Peru!!
SANYA, Hainan Province, Dec. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Miss Peru, Maria Julia Mantilla-Garcia, 20, was crowned Miss World 2004 in this scenic beach city in China's southernmost Hainan Province on Saturday night.
Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez, Miss Dominican Republic, and Nancy Randoll, Miss USA, gained the second and third places at thefinal contest.
Girls from 107 nations and regions participated in the pageant,held for the second consecutive year in Sanya. The pageant attracted roughly 2.5 billion viewers around the world, said JuliaMorley, president of the organization that sponsors the event.
The 55th pageant will also be in the city next year, she said.
The active support of the city government, the hospitality of the local people, the nice scenery and fine hotel facilities in Sanya are major factors behind the organization's decision, Morleysaid.
Mayor Chen Chi of the city hoped Sanya's reputation as an idealplace for holiday makers could be made known to more people of theworld via hosting more international events such as Miss World beauty pageant.
The Miss World Competition was launched in 1951 in London as part of the New Year celebrations in Britain. Currently, the themeof the event is to promote world peace, build up an image of outstanding women and help children suffering from hunger.
Singer Lionel Ritchie poses with, from left, Miss Jamaica Tonoya Anne Toyloy, Miss Bolivia Maria Nuvia Montenegro Apuri, Miss Namibia Adele Basson, Miss Zambia Rosemary Mulenga Chileshe, Miss Chinese Taipei Yi Hui Xu, Miss China Yang Jin, Miss Canada Tijana Arnautovic, Miss USA Nancy Randall, Miss Ireland Natasha Ni Gairbheith, and Miss England Danielle Lloyd. Ritchie will perform at the Miss World final Saturday. (AP Photo/Greg Baker) (December 03, 2004) 
Winners of the Miss World contest Fast Track awards pose during a photo session Thursday. From left are Miss Mexico Yesica Guadalupe Ramirez Meza, winner of the Top Model Award; Miss Antigua Shermain Sunja Jeremy, winner of the Talent ward; Miss Wales Amy Guy, winner of the Sports award; and Miss USA Nancy Randall, winner of the Beach Beauty award. The four winners are fast-tracked into the group of 20 finalists with an extra 25 points each. (AP Photo/Greg Baker) (December 03, 2004)
Miss Dominican Republic Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez, left, and Miss Puerto Rico Casandra Castro Holland, right, parade on stage during a rehearsal Thursday. (AP Photo/Greg Baker) (December 03, 2004)
Miss Peru Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia (C) celebrates with first runner-up Miss Dominican Republic Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez (L) and second runner-up Miss USA Nancy Randall after winning the Miss World 2004 title in Sanya on China's tropical island of Hainan December 4, 2004. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Miss USA Nancy Randall reacts after being announced as the second runner-up in the 54th Miss World ( pageant in Sanya, on China's tropical Hainan Island, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004. The Miss World title was won by Miss Peru. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
Miss Peru Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, right, reacts as she is announced as the new Miss World (news - web sites) in Sanya, on China's tropical Hainan Island, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004. At left is first runner-up Miss Dominican Republic Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez. Miss Peru beat 106 other contestants to take the title as the 54th Miss World. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
Five finalists Miss USA Nancy Randall, Miss Poland Katarzyna Weronika Borowicz, Miss Philippines Ma Karla Bautista, Miss Peru Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia and Miss Dominican Republic Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez (L-R) pose during the 54th Miss World (news - web sites) Final 2004 in Sanya on China's tropical island of Hainan December 4, 2004. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Miss Russia Tatyana Sidorchuk reacts as she becomes one of 15 finalists during the 54th Miss World (news - web sites) Final 2004 in Sanya on China's tropical island of Hainan December 4, 2004. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Contestants present their evening gowns at the Miss World (news - web sites) 2004 pageant in Sanya, China, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004. Contestants from over 100 countries and regions are taking part in the pageant. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
(From L) Miss Canada Tijana Arnautovic, Miss Ireland Natasha Ni Gairbheith and Miss Kenya Juliet Ochieng model evening wear during the 54th Miss World (news - web sites) Final 2004 in Sanya on China's tropical island of Hainan December 4, 2004. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Miss Australia Sarah Davies becomes one of the fifteen finalists during the 54th Miss World (news - web sites) Final 2004 in Sanya on China's tropical island of Hainan December 4, 2004. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Miss Belgium Ellen Petri, who won the best fashion category, models evening wear during the 54th Miss World (news - web sites) Final 2004 in Sanya on China's tropical island of Hainan December 4, 2004. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Contestants present their swim wear at the Miss World (news - web sites) 2004 pageant in Sanya, China Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004. Contestants from over 100 countries and regions are taking part in the pageant. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
(From L) Miss USA Nancy Randall, Miss Estonia Moonika Tooming and Miss Israel Rita Lukin model evening wear during the 54th Miss World (news - web sites) Final 2004 in Sanya on China's tropical island of Hainan December 4, 2004. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Contestants model swimwear during the 54th Miss World (news - web sites) Final 2004 in Sanya on China's tropical island of Hainan December 4, 2004. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Miss Mexico Yesica Guadalupe Ramirez Meza (front C) and other contestants model swimwear during the 54th Miss World (news - web sites) Final 2004 in Sanya on China's tropical island of Hainan December 4, 2004. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
A man cycles past a billboard featuring Miss World (news - web sites) 2003 Rosanna Davison of Ireland (C), first runner-up Nazanin Afshin-Jam of Canada (L) and second runner-up Qi Guan of China, in Sanya on China's tropical island of Hainan, December 1, 2004. A total of 107 contestants from around the world will compete in the 54th Miss World finals to be held on December 4. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Yowza!
What a beautiful woman! Actually, they are all beautiful. I would almost hate to be the one to decide (but I'd like to have a chance to do so!)
Hot Diggity!
It is kind of hard to see what Miss Zambia and Miss Kenya look like.
What a crowd of beautiful girls! Dominican Republic is a traffic-stopper!
The two best girlfriends I ever had were from Peru. I should have married the last one.
Put some clothes on and get off your knees, girls. Bill Clinton's out of office.
The winner looks like Penelope Cruz..which is, to say, a very good thing..
I had a Thread dealing with a pretty woman pulled the other day..............and here you have many!
The New Miss World
Hay-ay-ay! Muchas guapas.
She is very pretty.
Are her eyes brown or green?
The next Miss World is not that far off.
She is stunningly beautiful.
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