Miss World 2008 Explained

Winner:	Ksenia Sukhinova^[1] ^[2]
Represented:	Russia
Date:	13 December 2008
Entrants:	109
Placements:	15
Venue:	Sanndton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
Before:	2007
Next:	2009

Miss World 2008, the 58th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 13 December 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Originally, the pageant was going to take place in Kyiv, Ukraine, but because of the ongoing 2008 Russo-Georgian diplomatic crisis in neighbouring South Ossetia, the Miss World Organization decided to move the pageant away from Eastern Europe. 109 contestants from all over the world compete for the crown, the second highest turnout in the 59 years of the pageant. Zhang Zilin of China crowned Ksenia Sukhinova of Russia as the brand new Miss World.^{[1] [2]}

Results

Placements

Placement	Contestant
Miss World 2008	– Ksenia Sukhinova
1st Runner-Up	India – Parvathy Omanakuttan
2nd Runner-Up	Trinidad and Tobago – Gabrielle Walcott
Top 5	Angola – Birgite dos Santos South Africa – Tansey Coetzee
Top 15	Barbados – Natalie Griffith Brazil – Tamara Almeida Croatia – Josipa Kusić Iceland – Alexandra Ívarsdóttir Kazakhstan – Alfina Nasyrova Mexico – Anagabriela Espinoza Puerto Rico – Ivonne Orsini Spain – Patricia Rodríguez Ukraine – Iryna Zhuravska – Hannelly Quintero

Continental Queens of Beauty

Winners were as follows:^[3]

Continental Group	Contestant
Africa	Angola – Birgite dos Santos
Americas	– Hannelly Quintero
Asia & Oceania	India – Parvathy Omanakuttan
Caribbean	Trinidad and Tobago – Gabrielle Walcott
Europe	Spain – Patricia Yurena Rodríguez

Order of Announcements

Top 15

Top 5

Contestants

Miss World 2008 had a total of 109 contestants.

Country	Contestant	Age	Hometown	Regional
Albania		17		Europe
Angola	Birgite dos Santos^[4]	18		Africa
Antigua and Barbuda	Athina James	18		Caribbean
Argentina	Agustina Quinteros^[5]	18		Americas
Aruba	Christina Trejo^[6]	20		Caribbean
Australia	Katie Richardson^[7]	20		Asia & Oceania
Austria	Kathrin Krahfuss^[8]	23		Europe
Bahamas		21		Caribbean
Barbados	Natalie Griffith^[9]	18		Caribbean
Belarus	Volha Khizhynkova^[10]	21		Europe
Belgium	Alizée Poulicek^[11]	21		Europe
Belize	Charmaine Chinapen	21		Americas
	Jackelin Arias	18		Americas
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Tanja Vujičić	18		Europe
Botswana	Itseng Kgomotso^[12]	19		Africa
Brazil	Tamara Almeida	23		Americas
Bulgaria		19		Europe
Canada	Leah Ryerse	20		Americas
Cayman Islands		25		Caribbean
Chile	Nataly Chilet	23		Americas
China	Mei Yan Ling^[13]	25		Asia & Oceania
	Jamie Lin	24		Asia & Oceania
Colombia		18		Americas
Costa Rica		19		Americas
Croatia	Josipa Kusić^[14]	20		Europe
	Norayla Francisco^[15]	23		Caribbean
Cyprus	Mari Vasileiou	18		Europe
Czech Republic	Zuzana Jandová^[16]	20		Europe
Denmark		21		Europe
Dominican Republic	Geisha Montes De Oca	21		Caribbean
	Christelle Mbila^[17]	18		Africa
Ecuador	Marjorie Cevallos^[18]	22		Americas
Egypt	Sanaa Ismail Hamed^[19]	24		Africa
El Salvador	Gabriela Gavidia	18		Americas
		22		Europe
Ethiopia	Hibret Fekadu	18		Africa
Finland	Linda Wikstedt	19		Europe
France	Laura Tanguy^[20]	20		Europe
Georgia		18		Europe
Germany	Anne Katrin Walter	21		Europe
Ghana	Frances Takyi-Mensah^[21]	22		Africa
Gibraltar	Krystel Robba	22		Europe
Greece	Aggeliki Kalaitzi^[22]	24		Europe
Guadeloupe	Frédérika Charpentier	23		Caribbean
Guatemala		23		Americas
Guyana		23		Americas
Honduras		23		Americas
Hong Kong		24		Asia & Oceania
Hungary	Szilvia Freire	24		Europe
Iceland	Alexandra Ívarsdóttir^[23]	18		Europe
India	Parvathy Omanakuttan^[24] ^[25]	21		Asia & Oceania
Indonesia	Sandra Angelia^[26]	22		Asia & Oceania
Ireland	Sinéad Noonan^[27]	21		Europe
Israel	Tamar Ziskind	23		Asia & Oceania
Italy	Claudia Russo^[28]	25		Europe
Jamaica		19		Caribbean
Japan	Mizuki Kubodera^[29]	21		Asia & Oceania
Kazakhstan	Alfina Nassyrova^[30]	20		Asia & Oceania
Kenya	Ruth Kinuthia^[31]	22		Africa
		22		Asia & Oceania
Latvia	Ina Avlasēviča^[32]	20		Europe
Lebanon		20		Asia & Oceania
Lithuania		18		Europe
Malaysia	Soo Wincci^[33]	23		Asia & Oceania
Malta	Martha Fenech	18		Europe
Martinique	Élodie Delor	18		Caribbean
Mauritius	Olivia Carey^[34]	19		Africa
Mexico	Anagabriela Espinoza^[35]	20		Americas
	Iana Varnacova	17		Europe
Mongolia	Chinbatyn Anun	23		Asia & Oceania
Montenegro	Mariana Mihajlović	18		Europe
Namibia	Marelize Robberts^[36]	21		Africa
Netherlands	Carmen Kool	22		Europe
New Zealand	Kahurangi Taylor^[37]	18		Asia & Oceania
Nigeria	Adaeze Igwe^[38]	18		Africa
	Judith Wilson	23		Europe
Norway	Lene Egeli^[39]	21		Europe
Paraguay	Gabriela Rejala^[40]	19		Americas
Peru	Annmarie Dehainaut^[41]	18		Americas
Philippines	Danielle Castaño^[42]	19		Asia & Oceania
Poland	Klaudia Ungerman	20		Europe
Portugal	Andreia Rodrigues	24		Europe
Puerto Rico	Ivonne Orsini^[43]	20		Caribbean
	Ksenia Sukhinova	21		Europe
Saint Lucia		22		Caribbean
	Stephanie Willemse^[44]	19		Europe
Serbia	Nevena Lipovac	19		Europe
Seychelles	Elena Angione	22		Africa
Sierra Leone	Tyrilla Gouldson^[45]	24		Africa
Singapore	Faraliza Tan	22		Asia & Oceania
Slovakia	Edita Krešáková^[46]	19		Europe
South Africa	Tansey Coetzee^[47]	23		Africa
Spain	Patricia Rodríguez^[48]	18		Europe
Sri Lanka	Rochelle Correa	24		Asia & Oceania
Swaziland	Tiffany Simelane †^[49]	20		Africa
Sweden		22		Europe
	Nasreen Karim^[50]	22		Africa
Thailand	Ummarapas Jullakasian^[51]	23		Asia & Oceania
Trinidad and Tobago	Gabrielle Walcott^[52]	23
Turkey	Leyla Lydia Tuğutlu^[53]	19		Europe
Uganda		18		Africa
Ukraine	Iryna Zhuravska^[54]	18		Europe
United States		18		Americas
Uruguay		20		Americas
	Hannelly Quintero^[55]	23		Americas
		19		Asia & Oceania
	Chloe-Beth Morgan^[56]	22		Europe
Zambia	Winfridah Mofu	19		Africa
Zimbabwe	Cynthia Muvirimi^[57]	25		Africa

Judges

Miss World 2008 contestants were judged based upon the criteria of glamour, beauty, intelligence and poise.^{[58] [59]} Some of the judges were representatives of the Miss World Organization.^[58] Some of the contestants, such as Ksenia Sukhinova, communicated with the judges using a translator.^[1] Judges for the event were:

• Julia Morley – Chairwoman of the Miss World Organization.
• Wilnelia Merced – Miss World 1975 from Puerto Rico
• Aminurta Kang – Theatre stage director, China and North America
• Krish Naidoo – International ambassador for Miss World
• Pearl Luthuli – Group executive public commercial services SABC
• Lindiwe Mahlangu – Chief executive of the Joburg Tourism Company
• Precious Moloi-Motsepe – Chairperson of African Fashion International
• Graham Cooke – President of World Travel

Notes

Returns

• Last competed in 1999:
  • Seychelles
• Last competed in 2004:
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Egypt
  • Honduras
• Last competed in 2005:
• Last competed in 2006:
  • Barbados
  • Portugal
  • Uruguay
  • Zambia

Designations

• Thailand – Miss Thailand World was not held this year due to the death of Princess Galyani Vadhana, so last year's 1st runner-up, Ummarapas Jullakasian represented Thailand.

Replacements

• Egypt – Meriam George was replaced by Sanaa Ismail Hamed at the last minute for some undisclosed reasons.
• Hong Kong – Miss Hong Kong 2008 winner Edelweiss Cheung was replaced by the 1st runner-up, Skye Chan.
• Philippines – Janina San Miguel was replaced by Bb. Pilipinas 1st Runner-up, Danielle Castaño due to Janina's personal decision to give up her crown.^[60]
• Sweden – Jennifer Palm Lundberg placed 3rd Runner-up in the Miss World Sweden pageant, but won the title when each of the original top three placers declined the crown after disagreements over the winner's contract.
• – Miss Vietnam 2008 Trần Thị Thùy Dung was not allowed to compete after it was revealed that she did not graduate from high school. The 1st Runner-up Phan Hoàng Minh Thư and the 2nd Runner-up Nguyễn Thụy Vân also were not allowed to compete. After that, Dương Trương Thiên Lý, the 2nd Runner-up of Miss Universe Vietnam 2008 was designated to represent Vietnam.^[61]

Withdrawals

• Estonia – Due to lack of funding and sponsorship
• – Suzana Al-Salkini withdrew due to lack of funding and sponsorship, but she did compete the following year at Miss World 2009.
• Nepal – The organiser of the Miss Nepal pageant said it was postponing the contest scheduled for 23 August 2008 to an unknown date, after the Maoist women's wing, which has trained its sights on Miss Nepal, announced a Kathmandu Valley shutdown on the day to prevent the event.
• Panama – Kathya Saldaña had problems with the regional organisation and didn't obtain a South African visa in time.
• Romania – Due to lack of funding and sponsorship
• Slovenia – Due to lack of funding and sponsorship
• Suriname – Mireille Nederbiel was not allowed to compete in Miss World by the decision of pageant organizers.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Russian crowned Miss World 2008 . . 14 December 2008 . 22 January 2016.
2. Web site: Russian crowned as Miss World 2008. Daily Express. 14 December 2008 . 26 January 2016.
3. https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081213/wl_africa_afp/lifestylemissworldwomensafrica_081213202121 Russian crowned Miss World 2008
4. News: Lesliana Pereira tem tudo para fazer história no Miss Universo . 22 May 2008 . Angola Press .
5. News: La representante pampeana es Miss Internacional Argentina 08 . 19 April 2008 . 7 May 2008 . Diario Panorama . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080423063846/http://www.diariopanorama.com/diario/noticias/2008/04/19/a-18703.html . 23 April 2008 .
6. Web site: Miss Aruba . 22 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130615004625/http://www.missaruba.aw/index.php . 15 June 2013 .
7. News: Girl from the Gong to take on the world . https://web.archive.org/web/20080916102506/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0%2C25197%2C23515031-5013404%2C00.html . dead . 16 September 2008 . The Australian . 7 May 2008 . 10 April 2008 . James . Madden .
8. News: Miss Austria Wahl 2008 im Magna Racino Ebreichsdorf (NÖ) . Wien-konkret . 7 May 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080511034730/http://www.wien-konkret.at/lifestyle/miss-wahlen/miss-austria2008/ . 11 May 2008 .
9. News: Crowd pleasers . The Nation Newspaper . 17 September 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071111024444/http://www.nationnews.com/story/326180192090445.php . 11 November 2007 .
10. Web site: "Мисс Беларусь-2008" стала 21-летняя Ольга Хижинкова из Витебска . 22 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090917175026/http://naviny.by/rubrics/style/2008/05/02/ic_news_119_290117/ . 17 September 2009 .
11. Web site: Vrtnieuws.net . Blondine Alizée Poulicek is Miss België . 15 December 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071217010704/http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/vrtnieuws.net/cultuurmedia/media/071215MissBelgie . 17 December 2007 .
12. News: New Miss Botswana Pledges To Make A Difference. Mmegi. 17 December 2007. 7 May 2008. Mooketsi. Lekopanye. https://web.archive.org/web/20080507232624/http://www.mmegi.bw/2007/December/Monday17/6.php. 7 May 2008. dead.
13. Web site: Yan Ling Mei Gallery . 31 July 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080817051947/http://www.miss-china.cn/bbs/thread-654-1-1.html . 17 August 2008 .
14. Web site: Javno - Moda i ljepota - VIDEO: Imo?anka Josipa Kusi? Je Miss Hrvatske . 8 July 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080828204134/http://www.javno.com/hr/moda-i-ljepota/clanak.php?id=162088 . 28 August 2008 .
15. News: Extra . JENIFEER MERCELINA KORONA KOMO MISS UNIVERSO KORSOU . 3 March 2008 . 7 May 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080923172512/http://www.extra.an/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1195&Itemid=36 . 23 September 2008 .
16. Web site: Nova.cz. Miss České republiky 2008. 16 March 2008.
17. Web site: Christelle Mbila, miss RDC 2008. August 2008 . Radio Okapi. 4 August 2008.
18. Web site: El Universo . Miss Ecuador 2008 . https://archive.today/20120629201751/http://www.eluniverso.com/2008/03/14/0001/1065/D18A29E6C2FF4E0A861FE9D1B6E0F8C2.aspx . dead . 29 June 2012 . 14 March 2008 .
19. Web site: AIPS media. Miss Egypt 2008. 26 November 2008. 15 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161115181214/http://www.aipsmedia.com/index.php?page=news. dead.
20. Web site: Miss France 2016 – Site officiel. tf1. 22 January 2016.
21. http://www.soulhouronline.com/Soulhour/newsdetails.asp?id=3689&cat_id=12 Miss Ghana 2007/8
22. News: Antenna TV . Λαμπερός 19ος Διαγωνισμός Ομορφιάς . 27 May 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080528013115/http://www.ant1online.gr/showbiz/News/Pages/20085/5f631485-372b-48ba-b40c-025bca305036.aspx . 28 May 2008 .
23. News: MBL. Alexandra Helga valin ungfrú Ísland. 30 May 2008.
24. Web site: Kareena Kapoor judges ethnic beauty pageant in Mumbai . . 11 October 2015 . 23 January 2016.
25. Web site: The Times of India. Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2008. 5 April 2008. 11 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120211075535/http://feminamissindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2928968.cms. dead.
26. News: Inilah . Sandra Angelia Jadi Miss Indonesia 2008 . 13 May 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080514192747/http://inilah.com/berita.php?id=28164 . 14 May 2008 . dead .
27. News: Bebo. Miss Ireland. 21 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081122010819/http://www.bebo.com/MissIrelandpageant. 22 November 2008. dead.
28. News: Miss Mondo Italia . Claudia Russo siciliana di Messina è la nuova Miss Mondo Italia 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080609193335/http://www.missmondo.it/news.asp?id=1212922581 . 9 June 2008 .
29. News: Japan Today. Miss World Japan goes for the crown.
30. Web site: Девушки бывают разные – Архив – Общественно-политическая газета "Время". 22 January 2016.
31. http://www.kassfm.co.ke/features.php?section=arts&article=1058 Miss Kenya 2008
32. News: Noteikti konkursa 'Mis un Misters Latvija 2006' uzvarētāji . TVNET Zinas . 27 February 2008 . 8 May 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080925180054/http://www.tvnet.lv/zinas/latvija/cilvekzinas/article.php?id=464332 . 25 September 2008 .
33. Web site: http://clovetwo.com/articles/story.asp?file=%2F2008%2F8%2F14%2Fcelebstop%2F1780136&sec=celebstop . 15 April 2018 .
34. News: Plusieurs cordes à l'arc d'Olivia Carey. L'Express. 8 May 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160314071053/http://www.lexpress.mu/display_article.php?news_id=94891. 14 March 2016.
35. News: Elisa Nájera, Nuestra Belleza México . Milenio . 8 May 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071011020517/http://www.milenio.com/index.php/2007/10/06/130824/ . 11 October 2007 .
36. Web site: Miss Namibia 2008 . The Shebeen . 7 June 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090109201451/http://www.theshebeen.org/open-forum/22422-miss-namibia-2008-marelize-robberts.html . 9 January 2009 .
37. News: The New Zealand Herald. Student crowned Miss New Zealand. 5 May 2008. 8 May 2008.
38. Web site: Silverbird Group . Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080330195732/http://mbgn.silverbirdgroup.com/contestant_details.php?c_id=5 . 30 March 2008 .
39. Web site: LENE EGELI, FRØKEN NORGE- Hun ble Frøken Norge. Linn Sollied Madsen. Nettavisen. 22 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20110928214808/http://www.side2.no/tv/article1775606.ece. 28 September 2011. dead.
40. News: ABC Digital . Anoche eligieron nuevas bellezas paraguayas 2008 . 6 April 2008 .
41. News: ANNMARIE DEHAINAUT SE CORONÓ COMO MISS PERÚ WORLD 2008 . Peru.com . 12 July 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080713200556/http://www.peru.com/Entretenimiento/idocs/2008/7/12/DetalleDocumento_528244.asp . 13 July 2008 .
42. News: UST alumna wins Bb. Pilipinas crown . The Manila Times . 10 March 2008 . 8 May 2008 . Pangilinan . Ed . https://web.archive.org/web/20080328013303/http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/mar/10/yehey/top_stories/20080310top4.html . 28 March 2008 . dead .
43. http://www.elnuevodia.com/diario/noticia/tv/flash/de_san_juan_la_corona/383993 De San Juan la corona
44. News: The Hamilton Advertiser. Stunning Lisa takes second place at final. 27 May 2008.
45. News: Sesay. Babatunde. Miss Sierra Leone 2008 off to South Africa. 28 July 2010. The Patriotic Vanguard. 13 November 2008.
46. Web site: Bleskovky. Miss Slovensko 2008 je 19-ročná Edita Krešáková. 4 April 2008.
47. http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=656554 Miss SA 2007
48. http://www.telecinco.es/aquihaytomate/detail/detail1748.shtml Miss Spain 2008
49. http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=45697&section=entertain Miss Swaziland 2008/2009
50. https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214551/http://www.misstanzania.co.tz/past_winners.htm Miss Tanzania Past Winners
51. Web site: Thai Post . "Mim" to compete in Miss World 2008 . 31 July 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070814003446/http://www.thaipost.net/index.asp?bk=xcite . 14 August 2007 .
52. Web site: Miss Trinidad & Tobago. Miss Trinidad & Tobago 2007 . 24 February 2008.
53. Web site: İşte Türkiye'nin en güzel kızı. 28 March 2008. haberturk.com. 22 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216083722/http://www.haberturk.com/haber.asp?id=63759&cat=140&dt=2008%2F03%2F28. 16 December 2008. dead.
54. Web site: Важно.ru . https://archive.today/20120629201805/http://www.vazhno.ru/interesting/article/11548/ . dead . 29 June 2012 . 22 January 2016 .
55. http://www.panorama.com.ve/09especiales/new-especial/miss11.html Miss World Venezuela 2008
56. Web site: WalesOnline: News, sport, weather and events from across Wales. walesonline. 22 January 2016.
57. http://allafrica.com/stories/200712170201.html Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2007
58. Web site: Miss World 2008: She will not but who will be? . . 23 January 2016 . 23 January 2016 . 27 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190227060522/https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1175035/miss-world-2008 . dead .
59. News: Miss World 2008: Curtain raiser. The Times of India. 13 December 2008 . 22 January 2016.
60. Web site: Rogers . Gregory . Janina San Miguel . Voice Observer . 16 January 2016 . 23 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160128231224/http://voiceobserver.com/2016/01/16/janina-san-miguel.html . 28 January 2016 .
61. Web site: The Times of Beauty – www.timesofbeauty.com – Miss World 2015 – Miss Universe 2015: Noticias de Vietnam. Edwin Toledo. 22 January 2016.