Rolene Strauss is the new Miss World 2014. The 22-year old from South Africa bested other women from 121 countries to take home the coveted title in the finals held in London on December 14.
Edina Kulcsar from Hungary received the first runner-up award while Elizabeth Safrit from the United States bagged the third spot. Outgoing Miss World Megan Young from the Philippines awarded her successor with the crown.
According to a report by Yahoo, the fourth-year medical student dedicated her award to her fellow countrymen in an interview following the pageant. "South Africa this is for you," she said. "I think I will brace myself for what's about to happen. It's a huge responsibility," Strauss added.
CNN also noted that Nelson Mandela's anti-apartheid leadership and democratic reforms inspired the newly crowned Miss World to aspire a career in medicine. Aside from becoming a doctor, Strauss also dreams of helping people in her country have better access to education so they can reach their full potential.
"I am what I am today because of the opportunities I have received and I would love to give others the same opportunities; educating, the opportunity to be educated, to make healthy choices and also to live their dreams," stated the beauty queen. Strauss became the third Miss World to hail from South Africa.
Aside from beauty, talents and participation in charitable causes are other determining factors in choosing the next Miss World. Miss Malaysia bagged best in talent while it was a five-way tie between Miss Brazil, Kenya, Indonesia, India and Guyana for their presentation of their charitable involvements.
Other special awards were given to Miss Sweden for having the best in beach fashion, Miss Finland for best in sports, Miss United States as best in multimedia and Miss Bosnia and Herzegovina for being the top model competition winner.
Miss Thailand was voted people's choice via a global poll from a mobile phone application. Bollywood actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai received a special award during the coronation night. The 1994 Miss World was recognized for her work in helping children with cleft palates.
According to International Business Times, the Miss World competition is among the oldest beauty pageants in the world and was originally a part of the Festival of Britain celebrations in 1951. Kiki Haakonson from Sweden became the first ever Miss World out of 26 contestants. During the 50s, the swimsuit portion often raised public eyebrows and was seen as something provocative in those days.
Here is a list of the Miss World titleholders in the past decade:
- Miss World 2013, Megan Young from the Philippines
- Miss World 2012, Yu Wenxia from China
- Miss World 2011, Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela
- Miss World 2010, Alexadria Mills from the United States
- Miss World 2009, Kaiane Aldorino from Gibraltar
- Miss World 2008, Ksenia Sukhinova of Russia
- Miss World 2007, Zhang Zhilin of China
- MIss World 2006, Tatana Kucharova of Czech Republic
- Miss World 2005, Unnur Birna Vilhjamsdottir from Iceland
- MIss World 2004, Maria Julia Mantilla from Peru
