Megan Young wins Miss World 2013
(UPDATE 3) Philippines’ bet Megan Young becomes the "most beautiful woman in the world" as she wins the Miss World 2013 title during the pageant's coronation night on September 28 (Saturday) in Bali, Indonesia.
This year’s highly controversial pageant just made history after it installed the first-ever Filipina to win the coveted blue crown—bringing virtual chills and cheers online and in the rest of the Philippines, the country that she perfectly represented in what has been dubbed as "the oldest surviving beauty pageant in the world."
The 23-year-old Filipino-American actress and TV host presented the aura of a Miss World-in-the-making. Ultimately, Megan's winning answer to the question on why she should win Miss World, "Miss World for me treasures the core value of humanity and that guides her into understanding people, why they act the way that they do, how they're living their lives and I will use these core values in my understanding not only in helping others but to show other people how they can understand others, to help others so that as one, together, we shall help society," won over the answers of Miss Ghana Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter who placed third in the competition and Miss France Marine Lorphelin who placed second.
New Miss World, Megan Young (C) from the Philippines is congratulated by outgoing Miss World Yu Wenxia (L) after winning the crown, at the Miss World 2013 finals in Nusa Dua, on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, September 28, 2013. (AFP News)
New Miss World, Megan Young (C), from the Philippines is congratulated by outgoing Miss World Yu Wenxia (L) after winning the crown during the Miss World 2013 finals in Nusa Dua, in Indonesia's resort island of Bali on September 28, 2013. (AFP News)
Miss Philippines Megan Young is crowned Miss World 2013 by Miss World 2012 Yu Wenxia (not pictured) during the grand finale of Miss World 2013 in Nusa Dua, Bali resort island September 28, 2013. Young, 23, was crowned Miss World 2013 on Saturday at a tightly guarded ceremony in Bali, Indonesia, after the contest was plagued by protests from Muslim hardliners and fears that extremist groups could try to disrupt the event. Also pictured is third runner-up Miss Ghana Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter (top). REUTERS/Murdani Usman
Fearless forecast becomes reality
The Miss World organizers have placed Megan in three of the five challenge events (formerly called fast track): first in the Top Model category, fourth in the Multimedia category, and fifth among the 11 finalists in the Beach Fashion Final.
While they no longer give the challenge events winners a sure spot in the final round, the winners have been awarded bonus points to their preliminary scores.
Years in the making
Megan Young goes down in history as the first-ever Filipina to win Miss World—breaking a popular urban legend that no Filipina will ever win the title.
Despite the Philippines' successful finish in Miss Universe and other international beauty tilts, the Miss World crown has been elusive until 62 years later. (Miss World was reportedly founded in 1951)
In 2011, the Philippines almost won the title when Gwendoline Ruais placed second to Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela. In 2012, Queneerich Rehman made it to the Top 15 while in 1993, Sharmaine "Ruffa" Gutierrez placed 2nd runner-up to Lisa Hanna of Jamaica.
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