The 71st Miss World pageant will open on Feb. 18 and run through March 9 at various locations in India.
Previously scheduled for Dec. 16, 2023, the pageant was postponed due to the recent election in India. Miss World Karolina Bielawska of Poland, crowned in March 2022, extended her reign that will now end when the 71st Miss World Global Finale happens at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on March 9.
The Miss World pageant stands as one of the oldest international beauty competitions, with a rich history that dates back to its inception in 1951. The inaugural Miss World competition occurred at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, where 26 contestants from various nations gathered to vie for the coveted title. Sweden’s Kiki Haakonson emerged as the first-ever Miss World.
Initially, the competition focused on categories such as evening gown and swimsuit competitions, but it gradually expanded to include talent showcases and interviews to showcase the contestants’ intelligence, charisma and skills beyond aesthetics.
In the 1970s, the pageant faced protests and criticism from feminist groups, leading to alterations in its format, including the removal of the swimsuit competition for a brief period.
Throughout its history, the United Kingdom has been a significant host for Miss World, but the pageant has also traveled to various countries, showcasing the global nature of the competition. During the 1960s, the Miss World show was one of the programs with the highest viewership on British television.
Miss World requirements
To participate in the Miss World competition, contestants must be women aged between 17 and 27, unmarried and childless. Participants must also be citizens of the country they represent or have residency for a significant period.
The selection process involves national pageants or direct appointments, with contestants showcasing their talents, intelligence and commitment to social causes. Beauty is just one aspect, as Miss World places emphasis on qualities such as compassion, leadership and philanthropy.
The difference between Miss Universe and Miss World
The main difference between Miss Universe and Miss World is the organizations behind them. Miss World was created in 1951 by Eric Morley, also known as Mr. World. Currently, Miss World is organized by his widow, Julia Morley.
Both competitions also differ when it comes to pageant segments. Miss Universe is known for featuring a judges’ interview phase, a national costume runway, a swimsuit competition, evening-gown runway and a final Q&A round. Miss World features additional segments, including a social media challenge and sports. Additionally, Miss World significantly emphasizes talent and a “Beauty with a Purpose” project, showcasing the contestants’ commitment to social causes.
Miss Universe is considered popular in Latin America, the United States, Canada and the Philippines. Created in the U.K., Miss World is better known in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Who owns the Miss World?
Miss World is owned by the Miss World Organization, a company founded by Eric Morley in 1951. The Morley family has been closely associated with the pageant’s management since its inception. After Eric Morley’s passing in 2000, his wife, Julia Morley, took over the organization’s leadership.
In June 2022, Julia was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of her charitable and voluntary services to disadvantaged people in the United Kingdom and across the world.
American Miss World winners
- Miss World 1973: Marjorie Wallace
- Miss World 1990: Gina Tolleson
- Miss World 2010: Alexandria Mills
Every winner in the Miss World history:
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Miss World 1951 Kiki Håkansson
- Country: Sweden
- Age: 22
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Miss World 1952 May-Louise Flodin
- Country: Sweden
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1953 Denise Perrier
- Country: France
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1954 Antigone Costanda
- Country: Egypt
- Age: 19
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Miss World 1955 Susana Duijm
- Country: Venezuela
- Age: 19
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Miss World 1956 Petra Schürmann
- Country: Germany
- Age: 23
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Miss World 1957 Marita Lindahl
- Country: Finland
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1958 Penelope Coelen
- Country: South Africa
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1959 Corine Rottschäfer
- Country: Netherlands
- Age: 21
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Miss World 1960 Norma Cappagli
- Country: Argentina
- Age: 21
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Miss World 1961 Rosemarie Frankland
- Country: United Kingdom
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1962 Catharina Lodders
- Country: Netherlands
- Age: 20
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Miss World 1963 Carole Crawford
- Country: Jamaica
- Age: 20
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Miss World 1964 Ann Sidney
- Country: United Kingdom
- Age: 20
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Miss World 1965 Lesley Langley
- Country: United Kingdom
- Age: 21
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Miss World 1966 Reita Faria
- Country: India
- Age: 23
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Miss World 1967 Madeleine Hartog-Bel
- Country: Peru
- Age: 21
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Miss World 1968 Penelope Plummer
- Country: Australia
- Age: 19
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Miss World 1969 Eva Rueber-Staier
- Country: Austria
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1970 Jennifer Hosten
- Country: Grenada
- Age: 23
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Miss World 1971 Lúcia Petterle
- Country: Brazil
- Age: 22
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Miss World 1972 Belinda Green
- Country: Australia
- Age: 20
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Miss World 1973 Marjorie Wallace
- Country: United States
- Age: 19
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Miss World 1974 Helen Elizabeth Morgan (Resigned)
Helen Elizabeth Morgan resigned due to negative press regarding her being a single mother with an 18-month-old son.
- Country: United Kingdom
- Age: 22
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Miss World 1974 Anneline Kriel
Anneline Kriel was crowned Miss World 1974 after Morgan’s resignation.
- Country: South Africa
- Age: 19
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Miss World 1975 Wilnelia Merced
- Country: Puerto Rico
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1976 Cindy Breakspeare
- Country: Jamaica
- Age: 22
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Miss World 1977 Mary Stävin
- Country: Sweden
- Age: 20
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Miss World 1978 Silvana Suárez
- Country: Argentina
- Age: 20
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Miss World 1979 Gina Swainson
- Country: Bermuda
- Age: 21
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Miss World 1980 Gabriella Brum (Resigned)
Gabriella Brum resigned 18 hours after winning the crow. She claimed that her boyfriend at the time, then-52-year-old Hollywood film cameraman Benno Bellenbaum, disapproved of her new title. The media also attacked Bellenbaum for revealing he had nude pictures of her.
- Country: Germany
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1980 Kimberley Santos
Kimberley Santos received the crown after Brum’s resignment.
- Country: Guam
- Age: 19
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Miss World 1981 Pilín León
- Country: Venezuela
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1982 Mariasela Álvarez
- Country: Dominican Republic
- Age: 22
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Miss World 1983 Sarah-Jane Hutt
- Country: United Kingdom
- Age: 19
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Miss World 1984 Astrid Carolina Herrera
- Country: Venezuela
- Age: 21
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Miss World 1985 Hofi Karlsdottir
- Country: Iceland
- Age: 22
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Miss World 1986 Giselle Laronde
- Country: Trinidad and Tobago
- Age: 23
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Miss World 1987 Ulla Weigerstorfer
- Country: Austria
- Age: 20
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Miss World 1988 Linda Pétursdóttir
- Country: Iceland
- Age: 19
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Miss World 1989 Aneta Kręglicka
- Country: Poland
- Age: 24
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Miss World 1990 Gina Tolleson
- Country: United States
- Age: 21
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Miss World 1991 Ninibeth Leal
- Country: Venezuela
- Age: 20
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Miss World 1992 Julia Kourotchkina
- Country: Russia
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1993 Lisa Hanna
- Country: Jamaica
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1994 Aishwarya Rai
- Country: India
- Age: 21
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Miss World 1995 Jacqueline Aguilera
- Country: Venezuela
- Age: 19
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Miss World 1996 Irene Skliva
- Country: Greece
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1997 Diana Hayden
- Country: India
- Age: 24
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Miss World 1998 Linor Abargil
- Country: Israel
- Age: 18
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Miss World 1999 Yukta Mookhey
- Country: India
- Age: 21
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Miss World 2000 Priyanka Chopra
- Country: India
- Age: 18
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Miss World 2001 Agbani Darego
- Country: Nigeria
- Age: 19
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Miss World 2002 Azra Akın
- Country: Turkey
- Age: 21
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Miss World 2003 Rosanna Davison
- Country: Ireland
- Age: 19
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Miss World 2004 María Julia Mantilla
- Country: Peru
- Age: 20
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Miss World 2005 Unnur Vilhjálmsdóttir
- Country: Iceland
- Age: 21
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Miss World 2006 Taťána Kuchařová
- Country: Czech Republic
- Age: 18
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Miss World 2007 Zhang Zilin
- Country: China
- Age: 23
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Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova
- Country: Russia
- Age: 21
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Miss World 2009 Kaiane Aldorino
- Country: Gibraltar
- Age: 23
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Miss World 2010 Alexandria Mills
- Country: United States
- Age: 18
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Miss World 2011 Ivian Sarcos
- Country: Venezuela
- Age: 22
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Miss World 2012 Yu Wenxia
- Country: China
- Age: 23
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Miss World 2013 Megan Young
- Country: Philippines
- Age: 23
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Miss World 2014 Rolene Strauss
- Country: South Africa
- Age: 22
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Miss World 2015 Mireia Lalaguna
- Country: Spain
- Age: 23
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Miss World 2016 Stephanie Del Valle
- Country: Puerto Rico
- Age: 19
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Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar
- Country: India
- Age: 20
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Miss World 2018 Vanessa Ponce
- Country: Mexico
- Age: 26
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Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh
- Country: Jamaica
- Age: 23
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Miss World 2020: Postponed
The Miss World Organization postponed the 70th Miss World, or Miss World 2020, mere hours before the finale due to 17 contestants testing positive for COVID-19.
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Miss World 2021/2022 Karolina Bielawska
Due to the Miss Universe 2021 delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Karolina Bielawska was crowned in March 2022 and no other Miss World pageant was held during that year.
- Country: Poland
- Age: 23