Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss Earth, it is one of the Big Four beauty pageants.
Miss World 2003 was the 53rd edition of the Miss World pageant, held at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China on 6 December 2003. It was the first time that the Miss World pageant held in China.
Miss Venezuela is a Venezuelan beauty pageant operated by the Cisneros Group. Founded in 1952, it currently selects Venezuelan representatives to Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International. The current national director of Miss Venezuela is Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler.
Ulla Weigerstorfer is an Austrian tv host, model and beauty queen who won Miss World 1987 in London representing Austria. She became the second titleholder from her country, after Eva Rueber-Staier of Austria in 1969.
Miss World 2007, the 57th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 1 December 2007 at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China. It was hosted by Fernando Allende and Angela Chow. Zhang Zilin of China won the crown and succeeded Taťána Kuchařová of the Czech Republic.
Miss World 2002, the 52nd edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 7 December 2002 at the Alexandra Palace in London, United Kingdom. It was initially intended to be staged in Abuja, but due to religious riots in the nearby city of Kaduna the pageant was relocated to London.
Miss World 1998, the 48th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 26 November 1998 at the Lake Berjaya Mahé Resort in Mahé Island, Seychelles. 86 delegates from around the world competed for the crown. Ronan Keating, then lead singer of Boyzone, and MTV's Eden Harel hosted the event. This year's winner, Israel's Linor Abargil, revealed days after the competition that she had been raped several weeks before the pageant. She was crowned by Miss World 1997, Diana Hayden of India.
Miss World 1981, the 31st edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 12 November 1981 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. The winner was Pilín León from Venezuela, the first titleholder from her country since 1955. She was crowned by Miss World 1980, Kimberley Santos of Guam. Another Venezuelan, Irene Sáez, had been crowned Miss Universe 1981 in July, making Venezuela one of the few countries to hold both major international titles in the same year. The Continental Queens of Beauty were awarded for the first time.
Miss World 1979, the 29th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 15 November 1979 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. The winner was Gina Swainson from Bermuda. She was crowned by Miss World 1978, Silvana Suarez of Argentina. First runner-up was Carolyn Seaward representing the United Kingdom and second runner-up was Debbie Campbell from Jamaica. Swainson was a first runner-up in Miss Universe 1979 represented Bermuda and Carolyn Seaward was a second runner-up in same pageant represented England.
Miss World 1988, the 38th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 17 November 1988 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. The winner was Linda Pétursdóttir from Iceland. She was crowned by Miss World 1987, Ulla Weigerstorfer of Austria. Runner-up was Yeon-hee Choi representing Korea and third was Kirsty Roper from the United Kingdom. The Miss World 1988 was hosted by Peter Marshall, who has hosted other Miss World competitions such as Miss World 1986, and Alexandra Bastedo, with musical performances by Koreana and 1970s American pop musician Donny Osmond.
Miss World 1982 was the 32nd edition of the Miss World pageant, held on 18 November 1982 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. The winner was Mariasela Álvarez from the Dominican Republic. She was crowned by Miss World 1981, Pilín León of Venezuela. The first and second runners-up were Sari Kaarina Aspholm from Finland and Della Dolan from the United Kingdom who were semi-finalists in Miss Universe 1982 four months before.
Miss World 1984, the 34th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 15 November 1984 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. The winner was Astrid Carolina Herrera from Venezuela. She was crowned by Miss World 1983, Sarah-Jane Hutt of the United Kingdom. The 1st and 2nd runners-up were Constance Ellen (Connie) Fitzpatrick from Canada, and Lou-Anne Caroline Ronchi from Australia. The event was viewed by 17.1 million people in the UK.
Miss World 1986, the 36th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 13 November 1986 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, United Kingdom. The winner was Giselle Laronde from Trinidad and Tobago. She was crowned by Miss World 1985, Hólmfríður Karlsdóttir of Iceland. Runner-up was Pia Rosenberg Larsen representing Denmark and third was Chantal Schreiber from Austria.
Miss World 1972 was the 22nd edition of the Miss World pageant, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK on 1 December 1972 on BBC. Fifty-three delegates vied for the crown won by Belinda Green of Australia. Green became the second Australian winner of the crown in just four years. Since the reigning Miss World 1971 had suffered a broken arm and was unable to travel to London, Mrs. Julia Morley crowned the new Miss World 1972.
Miss World 1955 was the fifth edition of the Miss World pageant, held on 20 October 1955 at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, United Kingdom. 21 contestants competed for the crown. Eunice Gayson crowned Susana Duijm of Venezuela as the new Miss World. The previous year's Miss World, Antigone Costanda of Egypt, did not attend because of hostilities between Egypt and United Kingdom over Suez Canal. That was the first time Venezuela won the title of Miss World. This was the first time that a winner had been crowned with the crown on her head. Duijm also placed Top 15 in Miss Universe 1955.
Miss World 1985, the 35th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 14 November 1985 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. 78 contestants from all over the world competed for the coveted title. Miss World 1984, Astrid Carolina Herrera of Venezuela, crowned Hólmfríður Karlsdóttir of Iceland as the new Miss World at the end of the event.
Miss World 2011, the 61st edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 6 November 2011 at the Earls Court Two in London, United Kingdom. As part of the events, the contestants also travelled to Edinburgh, Scotland between 23 and 27 October. Alexandria Mills of the United States crowned her successor Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela at the end of the event, she is the sixth Venezuelan woman to win Miss World - currently tied with India for the most wins in the competition's history. Although over 120 delegates were expected to compete, problems regarding the timely acquisition of visas prevented several candidates from participating, thus reducing the final number to 113. Miss World 2011 was viewed by over 1 billion people worldwide.
Miss Earth 2013, the 13th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, was held on December 7, 2013 at the Versailles Palace in Las Piñas, Metro Manila, Philippines. Tereza Fajksová of the Czech Republic crowned her successor Alyz Henrich of Venezuela at the end of the event.
Miss World 2015, the 65th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 19 December 2015 at the outdoor arena of the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China. 114 contestants from all over the world competed for the crown. Rolene Strauss of South Africa crowned her successor Mireia Lalaguna of Spain at the end of the event. It was the first time in the history of Miss World that Spain won the pageant.
Miss World 2016, the 66th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 18 December 2016, at the MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, United States. 117 contestants from all over the world competed for the crown. Mireia Lalaguna of Spain crowned her successor Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico at the end of the event. It was the second time that the Miss World pageant held in the United States. It was the second time where Puerto Rico won Miss World, after Wilnelia Merced in 1975.
