Russia is crowned Miss World

The eyes of the world were on one stage when Kseniya Sukhinovia from Russia was crowned Miss World in a glittering, star - studded ceremony at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, the City of Gold.

The 2008 Miss World Festival, a record breaking year in the number of contestants taking part, has seen 109 beautiful and talented contestants spend an unforgettable month in South Africa. However, there could only be one winner and the applause rang out in the packed Convention Centre as Julia Morley, Chairman of the Miss World Organisation and of the international panel of judges, announced the winner`s name. Kseniya Sukhoinova smile spoke a thousand words to a worldwide TV audience of over 2 billion as she was crowned by last year`s Miss World, Zilin Zhang.

Trinidad and Tobago`s Gabrielle Walcott was second runner-up and India`s Parvathay Omanakuttan was first runner-up. The other two finalists were South Africa and Angola.

The Final opened with 14 minutes of African music and dance and the contestants walking on to stage wearing their dresses designed by African Fashion. The opening sequence ended with local schoolchildren carrying all of the representative countries` flags onto the stage.

The TV spectacular was hosted by top Chinese TV presenter Angela Chow, presenting Miss World for the sixth year in succession, alongside co-host South African celebrity, Tumisho Masha, making his Miss World Final debut.

The show told the story of the contestants` stay in South Africa, with video clips of their activities and sightseeing, including their exciting trip to Safari, Mpulanga and the dazzling Indian Ocean and white beaches of Durban. With an amazing stage and lighting and performances from international record-breaking band McFly, singing `Smile` and `Lies`, a mid tempo rocker and UK pop sensation Alisha Dixon singing her latest single `The boy does nothing`, the 58th Miss World Final was one of the most spectacular to date.

Miss World - The Final is the World`s largest live annual TV event with global viewing figures topping two billion. This year the 58th Final was broadcast in 187 countries and 373 TV stations.

African Contestants

 Brigite SANTOS, Angola
 Itseng KGOMOTSO, Botswana
 Christel MBILA, Congo DR
 Sanaa Ismail HAMED, Egypt
 Hibret FEKADU ALEMU, Ethiopia
 Frances, Judith TEKYI-MENSAH , Ghana
 Ruth Nyambura KINUTHIA, Kenya
 Olivia Marie Anne CAREY, Mauritius
 Martha Elizabeth (Marelize) ROBBERTS, Namibia
 Adaeze Chinenye IGWE, Nigeria
 Elena ANGIONE, Seychelles
 Tyrilia Chukuma GOULDSON, Sierra Leone
 Tansey COETZEE , South Africa
 Tiffany Sibongakonkhe SIMELANE, Swaziland
 Nasreen, Karim ABDALLAH , Tanzania
 Dora MWIMA , Uganda
 Winfridah, Katongo MOFU, Zambia
 Cynthia Maideyi MUVIRIMI, Zimbabwe
 

Canadian Contestant

 Miss Leah Nicole RYERSE, Canada

Source : Miss World Organization
 The title is from ADI-DIN