Miss World's dad 'buzzed'
2003-12-07 08:02
Sanya, China - Ireland's 19-year-old Rosanna Davison began her reign as Miss World Sunday after beating 105 other women to the title in China's first-ever staging of the international beauty pageant.
"I'm so happy, it still hasn't sunk in," Davison, daughter of "Lady in Red" singer Chris de Burgh, told AFP at the post-pageant party hours before her early morning flight home.
The Dublin native was crowned late on Saturday by last year's champion, Miss Turkey, Azra Akin, and earned $100 000 in prize money after edging out 24-year-old Miss Canada, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, and China's Guan Qi, 21.
The first year archaeology, sociology and art history student at University College, Dublin, became the first Ireland-born woman to win the contest.
She was heavily favoured to win the competition among her country's and London-based bookmakers after she was voted sexiest in a bikini last week.
This year's show was held in China's resort town of Sanya, in tropical southern Hainan province, and saw 106 beauty queens parade their looks and talents at the sold-out, 4&nbsd;000-seat Beauty Crown Theatre.
Wearing a fuchsia evening gown that highlighted her long, blond hair, Davison on Saturday told a panel of judges, which included Hollywood martial arts film star Jackie Chan, that "honesty, integrity and loyalty" were the values closest to her heart.
Her father was proud. "I'm elated," De Burgh said. "But I'm her dad so I'm buzzed."
Not all were happy with the outcome, however, with additional favourite and top five finisher Miss India, Ami Vashi, expressing bitter disappointment. A Miss India has won Miss World four times in the past eight years.
Maria Rafaela Yunon from the Philippines - another country that tends to do well in beauty pageants - also ended in the elite five, but no contestant from the usually strong Latin American countries made it past the top 20.
Miss Australia, Olivia Stratton, entered the final 20 as winner of the online world vote.
To fulfill her duties as Miss World 2003, Davison will defer her university studies for a year but plans to resume them to pursue a career in the arts, fashion or sports science and nutrition.
As Miss World, the brown-eyed beauty will assume a busy travelling schedule to help raise funds for Miss World's stated mission of helping disadvantaged children.
The avid traveller also promised to give her best to the cause.