Beauty and brains: Spanish university graduate defeats 113 women from around the globe to take home the Miss World crown
- Mireia Lalaguna Royo, from Barcelona, took the prestigious Miss World title at the Crown of Beauty Theatre, China
- But the university graduate first had to defeat some 113 women from around the world to take home the glitzy crown
- Russian beauty Sofia Nikitchuk, 22, was runner-up and Indonesian masters student Maria Harfanti, 23, came third
Mireia Lalaguna Royo, from Barcelona, beat 113 women from across the globe to take home the title at the contest's glitzy grand final at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China.
Sofia Nikitchuk, a 22-year-old university student from Yekaterinburg, in Russia, was the runner-up and masters student Maria Harfanti, 23, from Indonesia, came in third place. Miss Jamaica and Miss Lebanon were also in the final five.
Miss Scotland Mhairi Fergusson and Miss Northern Ireland Leanne McDowell made it into the top 20 but Miss Wales and Miss England did not make it into the second round.
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Pageant royalty: Spanish beauty Mireia Lalaguna Royo, from Barcelona, claims her titled after being crowned this year's Miss World
Glittering: The Spanish beauty queen waves to the crowd at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in China, at the grand final ceremony
Shocked: Mireia Lalaguna Rozo of Spain looks delighted after winning the new title at the Miss World at the Grand Final in Sanya
Emotional: Mireia Lalaguna Rozo of Spain bursts into tears after winning the new title at the Miss World at the Grand Final in China
Miss Royo, who holds a degree in pharmacology, placed first in the competition's top model round and impressed the judges with her public speaking.
Not present was Miss Canada, Chinese-born Anastasia Lin, who had been prevented from boarding her connecting flight to Sanya from Hong Kong last month after China refused her a visa.
Lin is an outspoken critic of Chinese religious policy and a follower of the Falun Gong meditation practice, which was outlawed by China in 1999.
She said that after she won the Canadian title, Chinese security agents visited her father, who still lives in China, in an apparent attempt to intimidate her into silence.
Crowning glory: Mireia Lalaguna Rozo (centre) of Spain is crowned by former Miss World Jolene Strauss after winning the new title at the Miss World Grand Final
Congratulatory: Mireia Lalaguna Rozo of Spain surrounded by fellow competitors after winning the title of Miss World at the Grand Final
Tearful: Miss Spain Mireia Lalaguna Royo (centre left) is comforted and congratulated by her fellow competitors at the grand final in China
Glamour: The Spanish university graduate had to defeat 113 women from around the globe to take home the prestigious crown
Stunning: Sofia Nikitchuk, Miss World Russia reacts after entering the semi final at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, in southern China's Hainan province on December 19
Former winner: Former Miss World Jolene Strauss (left) and Miss Russia, Sofia Nikitchuk hug during the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, in southern China's Hainan province on December 19
Competition: Miss Iceland Arna Yr Jonsdottir (front left) and Miss India Aditi Arya walk with other contestants on stage during the grand final of the 65th Miss World pageant
Hotting up: Lu Yuan, Miss World China, looks delighted after the announcement that she would be entering the semi final at the Miss World Grand Final
Hopeful: Albijona Muharremaj (centre) Miss World Germany, surrounded by her fellow contestants, at the Miss World Grand Final in China
Photo opportunity: Miss World contestants perform at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, southern China's Hainan province
Showtime: Contestants walk on stage during the grand final of the 65th Miss World pageant at Crown of Beauty Hotel in Hainan province
Grand entrance: Contestants led by Miss Sweden Natalia Fogelund (front left) and Miss Tanzania Lilian Kamazima (front right) walk on stage during the final
Smiling faces: Miss Germany Albijona Muharremaj walks on stage during the grand final of the 65th Miss World pageant
Holding hands: Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle (left) and Miss Hungary Daniella Kiss walk on stage during the grand final
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3367103/Beauty-brains-Spanish-university-graduate-defeats-113-women-globe-home-Miss-World-crown.html#ixzz3v2l0oDAQ
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