Picture Gallery: Miss China Wen Xia Yu is Miss World 2012

Miss China, Wen Xia Yu won the title of Miss World 2012 while Miss Wales Sophie Elizabeth Moulds and Miss Australia Jessica Michelle Kahawaty came second and third respectively. Miss China had to compete with 116 candidates to win the crown.

Miss India Vanya Mishra made it to the list of top 7 finalists, but could not go beyond that.

Miss World contest is watched by over a billion people across the world. Reigning Miss World Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela crowned the winner in the futuristic Ordos stadium, which sits alongside a vast town square devoted to the powerful Mongolian warrior Genghis Khan.

While the charm of the pageant, first held in 1951, has waned in the West, it continues to be an object of interest in Asian countries.

Sweden's Kiki Hakansson was the first Miss World, while Oscar-winning US actress Halle Berry was a finalist in 1986.

Although Vanya could not win the crown, she represented India and Indian culture in the most beautiful manner. While her thoughtful gift for auction was a golden peacock, she actually did a lovely dance on on 'Dil cheez kya hai' wearing an anarkali suit and jhoomar!

Venezuela has produced the most Miss Worlds, with six winners, while India and Britain claim five titles each.

Several contestants amazed the audience with their national costumes!

All Photo Credit: Miss World Official Website

Miss World contest has several preliminary rounds, the winners of these major rounds of the pageant were: Beach Fashion: Miss Wales, Talent Champion: Miss China, Top Model: Miss Sudan, Beauty with a Purpose: Miss India and Social Media Award: Miss India.

Miss World 2012: Vanya Mishra loses the crown to Miss China

Ordos (China): Miss People's Republic of China was crowned Miss World 2012 in a glittering ceremony here.

Vanya Mishra

India’s contender for the much-coveted Miss World 2012 title, Vanya Mishra was amongst the top seven finalists at the global beauty pageant. Vanya won ‘Miss Social Media’ and ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ title and was being touted as one of the probable winner.

The contenders for the ‘Miss Social Media’ round were judged for their social networking skills which are in demand these days to climb the ladder of success.

Vanya was also noted for the work she did with a charity named ‘Muktangan’ which won her fifty points extra, thus making her entry easy amongst the top 7 finalists.

During the final round, the contestants were asked Why they deserved to be the next Miss World. Vanya answered: “I believe that the next Miss World should be a woman with a kind heart and humility, who wherever she goes, makes people feel that she is their own. Somebody who carries simple values in this complex world, somebody who believes in herself. And this is what I believe I am.”

Vanya is currently doing her undergraduate programme in Electrical Engineering and hails from the city of Jalandhar.

There were 116 participating countries this year – the most number of participating countries thus far.

By Zeenews Bureau