Dublin prepares for Miss World homecoming

Irish fans will have to wait a little longer to catch a glimpse of their new Miss World after her homecoming was delayed today.

Rosanna Davison, 19, the daughter of singer Chris de Burgh, became the first Irish model to claim the crown when she saw off the challenge of 105 competitors at the weekend.

The art student, who took a break from college to compete in the event, triumphed in front of an audience of 4,500 people, including her proud parents, in the southern Chinese resort city of Sanya.

A spokesperson for the competition’s organisers said Ms Davison had arrived in London this morning, but was not due to fly home to Dublin before Wednesday.

President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern have already congratulated her on her success and a major party is planned to celebrate her return home to Dalkey, south Dublin.

Ms Davison was the favourite to win the title before the final after bookies across the world slashed her odds when she won the Miss World Beach Beauty in the run-up to the main competition.

Organisers claimed the contest attracted a global audience of over two billion, making it the largest annual TV event in the world.