Miss Venezuela wins Miss World 2011
By Peterking Quaye – 21 years old Venezuelan has been crowned as this year’s Miss World winner. Despite her dream of becoming a nun ,she is now crowned Miss World – as angry protesters picket pageant.
Miss World
Many tipped her as a favourite for the Miss World title going into the final at Earls Court, London, yesterday evening but reacted with delight and disbelief when she was announced as the winner of the famous beauty pageant. Now she said she wants to use her title to help other people.
Over a billion viewers from around the world tuned into see her crowned the winner, with runner up prizes going to Miss Philippines and Miss Puerto Rico.
This was the 60th year of the beauty pageant and to celebrate its diamond anniversary, it returned to the city where it all began. The first was held in London in 1951 during the Festival of Britain on the South Bank of the River Thames. But throughout its 60 year history, the beauty competition has attracted critics as well as fans.
This year was no different and campaign groups, including London Feminist Network, Object and UK Feminist, voiced their opposition to the ‘sexist contest’. Fans who were unable to follow the final on television were kept up-to-date on the internet via live streaming and Facebook updates and tweets.
Representing the UK, Miss England, Alize Mounter, and Miss Scotland, Jennifer Reogh, both made it into the top seven. But Miss Wales, Sara Manchipp, and Miss Northern Ireland, Finola Guinnane, did not make it to the semi-final.
She said: ‘Winning means everything to me and I hope to take advantage of being a winner in a productive manner. I’m unbelievably happy to have won and there are some incredible girls. I first and foremost want to help people in need. I would like to help people like me. I am an orphan. I would also like to help the elderly and troubled teenagers. As many people as I can. ‘Unfortunately I lost both my parents at a very young age which led me to study for five years in a nunnery. I spent my five years in there and my dream was to become a nun.’
- Winner Miss Venezuela was orphaned at eight and spent five years in a home run by nuns.
- Pageant attracts 1bn viewers worldwide as contest returns to UK to celebrate 60 year anniversary.
- A woman who spent five years living in a nunnery and once dreamed of becoming a nun has been crowned Miss World 2011.
- Miss Venezuela, Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares, beat contestants from 113 countries to the coveted title after impressing the judges in the categories of beach beauty, top model, talent, sports, and beauty with a purpose – where the contestants must demonstrate involvement in a charity project.
- Ms Sarcos Colmenares, 21, one of 13 siblings, was orphaned at eight and spent five years studying at a nunnery. She dreamed of becoming a nun but her life took a different direction, as she gained a degree in human resources and worked for a broadcasting company before becoming a beauty queen.
Age: 21
Height: 179cm (5ft 9in)
Language: Spanish
Biography: Ivian has a degree in human resources and works for a broadcasting company. Her future ambition is to work with children.
Family: Ivian has 12 siblings and was sadly orphaned as a young girl.
Hobbies: Volleyball, mountaineering and trekking.
Describe yourself: Graceful and perseverant.
Personal motto: Everything arrives when it should.
Favourite food: Chicken soup and the traditional pabellon of my country.
Favourite music/books: Music, Alejandro Sanz and Ricardo Arjona. My favourite book is ‘The Secret’ because it talks about the laws of attraction and how to be in tune with your life goals.
Proudest moment: When I did my Communion. All of my family were together that day so it is a moment I cherish deeply.
The message that the competition is now about brains as well as beauty was shown by figures that revealed out of this year’s contestants, more than half are studying for a degree, one in four are graduates and more than half speak at least three languages. The contest was also revealed to have the support of Nelson Mandela. He sent a message which was read out during the final sending his greetings to all the contestants and congratulating them on their efforts for charities.
TV presenter Bruce Forsyth also took to the stage with his wife, Wilnelia Merced, who was crowned Miss World in 1975, while dance group Diversity and boy band Blue performed for the worldwide audience.
In her new role, Miss Venezuela will now spend the year visiting and supporting a range of global charity projects supported by Miss World’s Beauty With A Purpose programme.
