Parvathy Omanakuttan Miss world 2008 Runner Up

After crowning the three ...

Russia’s Kseniya Sukhinova won the Miss World 2008 crown on Saturday in a glittering African-themed pageant where she outshone 108 other international beauties and pledged to “help people.”

“And Miss World 2008 is Russia,” announced Julia Morley, head of the Miss World committee that organises the event.

India’s Parvathy Omanakuttan was adjudged the first runner-up at the Miss World pageant here Saturday evening.

Parvathy does a graceful 'namastey' to the crowd that cheers. This is showcasing India and its culture to the world in the best manner possible.

Parvathy Omanakuttan wooed the crowd by greeting them in the Afrikaans language, spoken by many in South Africa. She also referred to heroes such as Mahatma Ghandi and South Africa’s first black president Nelson Mandela, who was quoted by Trinidad and Tobago’s Walcott as well.

The second runner up was Gabrielle Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and the first runner up Parvathay Omanakuttan of India.

The 21-year-old blue-eyed blonde beauty, who declared shortly before her win was announced that being nervous made her “feel stronger,” takes over from Zhang Zi Lin of China to become the 58th Miss World.

“I think I can help people and I want to help people and today if I walk away with this crown I will do that,” Sukhinova told judges through a translator after being asked why she should be crowned the winner.

The Old gives way to the New

Hailing from Nizhnevartovsk in the north west of Siberia, Sukhinova was dressed in a purple gown, with a decorative neckline and flowing skirt.

She is a student pursuing an engineering degree from the Tyumen Oil and Gas University.

Sukhinova becomes the second Miss Russia to win the global event after Julia Kourochkina took the crown in 1992.

Kseniya Sukhinova in surprise ...

Contestants, aged 17 to 25, were dressed by South African and Jamaican designers for the final show after a month of galas, rehearsals and even a safari on the tip of the African continent.

Trading glamour for the bush, the beauties donned T-shirts and sneakers as they gamely tramped into the bush to see lions and giraffes, play African drums, sleep in huts and cook traditional Zulu meals.

Johannesburg sought to use the event to boost its image as a world class city, despite being known for its high crime rates, while the country also hopes to benefit from the publicity ahead of staging the football World Cup in 2010.

“I think we have been able to showcase the best of what our country has to offer,” said judge Lindiwe Mahlangu, the chief execut