Miss Peru crowned Miss World

Miss Peru, Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, was crowned Miss World today in the southern Chinese city of Sanya.

Miss Dominican Republic Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez was the first runner-up and Miss USA Nancy Randall was third runner-up.

Mantilla Garcia, 20, wearing a turquoise gown, blew kisses to the crowd as she was crowned. The title carries a $100,000 (about €74,600) prize.

Organisers said the winner was selected by viewers voting by Internet, phone and mobile phone text message. Vote totals and other details of the voting were not immediately released.

A total of 107 women from around the world competed for the crown in the beach resort on Hainan Island in the South China Sea.

“I’m very surprised but I’m also very happy,” Mantilla Garcia told reporters. She said she wanted to do charitable work as Miss World and “help all the people that I can”.

The event included performances by American pop singer Lionel Richie.

A panel of celebrity judges was on hand to pick the winner in case the high-tech voting system failed.

They included Australian television star Kate Ritchie, West Indian cricket legend Sir Viv Richards, Chinese fashion photographer Li Shaobai and Krish Naidoo, an Ireland-based businessman.

The hosts were British model Lisa Snowdon, Hong Kong television host Angela Chow and Troy McClain, a former contestant on the US reality TV series The Apprentice.

This was the second year the London-based Miss World contest has been held in Sanya.

Organisers announced on Friday that the event would be held in Sanya against next year.