Miss World 2015: Spain’s Mireia Lalaguna Royo Takes Home The Crown

Spanish model Mireia Lalaguna was crowned Miss World 2015 late Saturday after beating out 113 contestants from across the globe on Saturday night at a coastal resort city in south China’s Hainan province.

The pageant’s second place was awarded to Russia’s Sofia Nikitchuk, while third place went to Indonesia’s Maria Harfanti.

Miss Thailand, the delightfully named Thanyachanok “French Fries” Moonninta, 22, of Chiang Mai, did not place in the final countdown. Her well-publicised tuk-tuk costume failed to win any votes for best national dress.

Miss Spain Mireia Lalaguna Royo (C) receives the crown from 2014 winner Rolene Strauss of South Africa (rear), as she is flanked by second-placed Miss Russia Sofia Nikitchuk (L) and third-placed Miss Indonesia Maria Harfanti, during the Miss World 2015 pageant in Sanya, China | Source: Reuters

A second major pageant, Miss Universe, will be staged Monday morning (Thailand time) in Las Vegas. Miss Universe Thailand is Aniporn “Nat” Chalermburanawong, the 21-year-old beauty from Lampang.

The pharmacy student from Barcelona claimed the illustrious crown after winning over the contest’s judges during the 65th edition of the world famous pageant in China’s Sanya.

“Without the love I have received from all of the people I have met here, and from all of the people wishing me well and supporting me at home, I would never have gotten to this point,” said the beauty queen, according to a statement released by the event’s organisers.

(Front row, 3rd L to 2nd R) Second-placed Miss Russia Sofia Nikitchuk, winner Miss Spain Mireia Lalaguna Royo, third-placed Miss Indonesia Maria Harfanti, Miss Lebanon Valerie Abou Chacra and Miss Jamaica Sanneta Myrie hold hands as they celebrate during the Miss World 2015 | Source: Reuters

“I want to show them and the world that I am deserving of the Miss World title and I hope to do everyone proud.”

However, the ceremony was not without controversy. Officials in Hong Kong last month stopped Miss Canada, Anastasia Lin, from boarding a plane bound for Sanya, telling her she would not receive a visa.

>The 25-year old actress claimed the decision was due to her stance on China’s human rights record, including its persecution of Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual group of which she is a practitioner.