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More than 100 of the world’s most beautiful women compete on Saturday for the Miss World crown, after a month traveling in South Africa, with some decidedly unglamorous moments on safari.
During the two-hour show, set to begin at 2030 IST, the beauties will parade on stage in gowns created by South African and Jamaican designers.
This year’s event has a special focus on song, dance and music, with Miss England and others performing on stage, organisers said.
The women, aged 17 to 25, arrived in South Africa one month ago and have criss-crossed the country for an endless series of galas, rehearsals and press conferences – and of course a safari.
Trading their sequins for T-shirts and sneakers, they gamely tromped into the bush to see lions and giraffes, play djembe drums, sleep in huts and cook traditional Zulu meals.
Contestants from the eight countries in the FIFA Confederations Cup, which takes place in South Africa in June as a warm-up for the 2010 World Cup, also joined in the draw for their teams.
South Africa hopes the pageant, broadcast in 180 countries to an estimated one billion viewers, will help overcome Johannesburg’s reputation for crime and promote the city as a tourist spot.
Since the pageant began in 1951, it’s been held in South Africa eight times.
Julia Morley, head of the Miss World committee that organises the event, says the pageant serves a charitable purpose.
Hopes are high on India’s contender, Miss India Parvathi Omanakuttan.


(6 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)



1 Comment Received
December 14th, 2008 @6:26 am
PARAVTHI OMANAKUTTAN, the runnerup………….
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