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Miss World 2008 was the 58th edition of the
Miss World Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Mi ...
pageant, held at the Sandton Convention Centre in
Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...
, South Africa, on 13 December 2008.
Zhang Zilin Zhang Zilin (, born 22 March 1984) is a Chinese actress, singer, fashion model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 2007; she was previously crowned Miss China World, Miss China World 2007. Biography Zhang was born in Weihai, Shandong, o ...
of China crowned
Ksenia Sukhinova Ksenia Vladimirovna Sukhinova (; born 26 August 1987) is a Russians, Russian TV host, model and former beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World 2008. She was the second Russian woman to be crowned Miss World, and had previously bee ...
of Russia as her successor at the end of the event. This is the second time Russia has won the title.


Background


Date and location

Originally, the pageant was going to take place in
Kyiv Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...
,
Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
, but because of the ongoing
2008 Russo-Georgian diplomatic crisis Though tensions had existed between Georgia (country), Georgia and Russia for years and more intensively since the Rose Revolution, the diplomatic crisis increased significantly in the spring of 2008, namely after Western powers Kosovo independe ...
in neighbouring
South Ossetia South Ossetia, officially the Republic of South Ossetia or the State of Alania, is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus with International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, partial diplomatic recognition. It has an offici ...
, the Miss World Organization decided to move the pageant away from Eastern Europe.


Selection of participants


Replacements

Janina San Miguel Janina Miller San Miguel (born November 14, 1990) is a Filipino beauty queen who was crowned Binibining Pilipinas World at the Binibining Pilipinas 2008 beauty pageant. San Miguel resigned from her title in September 2008, three months bef ...
was replaced by first Runner-up of
Binibining Pilipinas Binibining Pilipinas (abbreviated as Bb. Pilipinas or BBP; ) is the oldest active national beauty pageant in the Philippines. Founded in 1964, it currently selects Filipina representatives to compete in one of the Big Four international beau ...
, Danielle Castaño due to Janina's personal decision to give up her crown.


Returns, and, withdrawals

This edition saw the return of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Honduras, Portugal, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Taiwan, Uruguay and Zambia; Seychelles, which last competed in
1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
, Antigua and Barbuda, Egypt and Honduras in
2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
, Taiwan in
2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...
and Barbados, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Portugal, Saint Lucia, Uruguay and Zambia in
2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...
. Estonia, Grenada, Macedonia, Nepal, Panama, Romania, Slovenia and Suriname, withdrew from the competition.


Results


Placements


Continental Queens of Beauty

Winners were as follows:


Order of Announcements

Top 15 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Top 5 # # # # #


Contestants

Miss World 2008 had a total of 109 contestants.


Judges

Miss World 2008 contestants were judged based upon the criteria of glamour, beauty, intelligence and poise. Some of the judges were representatives of the Miss World Organization. Some of the contestants, such as
Ksenia Sukhinova Ksenia Vladimirovna Sukhinova (; born 26 August 1987) is a Russians, Russian TV host, model and former beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World 2008. She was the second Russian woman to be crowned Miss World, and had previously bee ...
, communicated with the judges using a
translator Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. The English language draws a terminological distinction (which does not exist in every language) between ''trans ...
. Judges for the event were: *
Julia Morley Julia Evelyn Morley (née Pritchard; born 25 October 1939) is an English businesswoman, charity worker and former model. She is the chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, which organizes the Miss World and Mister World pageants. She ...
– Chairwoman of the Miss World Organization. *
Wilnelia Merced Wilnelia, Lady Forsyth-Johnson (''née'' Merced Cruz; born 12 October 1957) is a Puerto Rican former actress, model and beauty queen. She was crowned Miss World 1975, and was married to British entertainer Sir Bruce Forsyth from 1983 until his ...
Miss World 1975 Miss World 1975 was the 25th edition of the Miss World pageant, held on 20 November 1975 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, United Kingdom. 67 contestants took part in the pageant won by Wilnelia Merced of Puerto Rico. She was crowned by Anne ...
from
Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
* Aminurta Kang – Theatre stage director, China and North America * Krish Naidoo – International ambassador for Miss World * Pearl Luthuli – Group executive public commercial services
SABC The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the public broadcaster in South Africa, and provides 19 radio stations (Amplitude modulation, AM/Frequency modulation, FM) as well as 6 television broadcasts and 3 OTT Services to the general ...
* Lindiwe Mahlangu – Chief executive of the Joburg Tourism Company *
Precious Moloi-Motsepe Precious Moloi-Motsepe (born 2 August 1962) is a South African philanthropist and fashion entrepreneur. One of the richest women in South Africa, she started her career as a medical practitioner, specializing in children and women's health. In S ...
– Chairperson of African Fashion International * Graham Cooke – President of World Travel


Notes


Designations

* –
Miss Thailand World Miss World Thailand ''(also known as Miss Thailand World)'' is a Thai national pageant in which the winner compete in the Miss World, one of the Big Four major international beauty pageants. The current Miss World Thailand is Suchata Chuangsr ...
was not held this year due to the death of
Princess Galyani Vadhana Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Naradhiwas (; ; 6 May 1923 – 2 January 2008) was a princess of Thailand and the elder sister of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) and King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). She was also a direct granddaughter of King Ch ...
, the elder sister of then King
Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej (5 December 192713 October 2016), titled Rama IX, was King of Thailand from 1946 until Death and funeral of Bhumibol Adulyadej, his death in 2016. His reign of 70 years and 126 days is the longest of any List of Thai mo ...
, so the previous year's 1st runner-up, Ummarapas Jullakasian represented Thailand.


Replacements

* –
Meriam George Meriam George (, ; born 30 May 1987 in Cairo, Egypt) is an Egyptian model and beauty pageant titleholder. Career At the age of eighteen, she was the official Pantene Miss Egypt 2005 winner. She represented Egypt in Miss Universe 2005, Miss Inte ...
was replaced by
Sanaa Ismail Hamed Sanaa Ismail Hamed (; born 1984) is an Egyptian model and beauty pageant titleholder who represented Egypt at Miss World 2008 in South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernm ...
at the last minute for some undisclosed reasons. * –
Miss Hong Kong Miss Hong Kong Pageant (), or Miss HK () for short, is an annual beauty pageant organised by local Hong Kong television station, TVB. The pageant was established in 1946, and acquired by TVB in 1973. Regulations Recruitment All participants ...
2008 winner
Edelweiss Cheung Edelweiss Cheung (, born 27 October 1985) is a Hong Kong model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Hong Kong 2008. Biography Cheung was on born 27 October 1985 in British Hong Kong. Her parents are Chinese Americans from Shantou, ...
was replaced by the 1st runner-up,
Skye Chan Skye Chan (, born October 13, 1983) is a Hongkonger actress and beauty pageant titleholder who placed 1st runner-up at Miss Hong Kong 2008. She represented Hong Kong in Miss World 2008 where she did not even win a place, but in Miss Chinese I ...
. * – Jennifer Palm Lundberg placed 3rd Runner-up in the
Miss World Sweden Miss World Sweden is a national Beauty pageant that has selected Sweden's representative to the Miss World pageant. History Firstly, Miss Sweden which ran from 1949 to 2003, by the lifestyle and women's magazine '' VeckoRevyn'' and producti ...
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 Trần Thị Thùy Dung (born February 18, 1990, in Đà Nẵng, Việt Nam) was crowned as Miss Vietnam 2008 on August 31 in Hội An. Miss Vietnam 2008 Tran Thi Thuy Dung was the tallest contestant (1,78m - 2008) with body measurements 86 - 61 ...
was not allowed to compete after she was found ineligible. 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 Dương Trương Thiên Lý (born 10 June 1989) is a Vietnamese actress, director, model and beauty pageant titleholder. Accordingly, she gained placement as 2nd runner-up in Miss Universe Vietnam 2008, and represented Vietnam in the Miss World ...
, the 2nd Runner-up of
Miss Universe Vietnam 2008 Miss Universe Vietnam 2008, the 1st Miss Universe Vietnam pageant, was held on May 31, 2008, at the Vinpearl Land resort in Nha Trang, Khánh Hoà, Vietnam. 20 contestants competed for the crown. The first winner of the pageant was Nguyễn Th ...
was designated to represent Vietnam.


Withdrawals

* – 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 Miss World 2009 was the 59th edition of the Miss World pageant, held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 12 December 2009. Ksenia Sukhinova of Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country sp ...
. * – The organiser of the
Miss Nepal Miss Nepal () is a national beauty pageant in Nepal. The winners are sent to Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss International. History From the first pageant in 1994, the winner of the Miss Nepal has represented Nepal at Miss Asia Pacific. After ...
pageant said it was postponing the contest scheduled for 23 August 2008 to an unknown date, after the
Maoist Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic o ...
women's wing, which has trained its sights on Miss Nepal, announced a
Kathmandu Valley The Kathmandu Valley (), also known as the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley (, Newar language, Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅 𑐐𑐵𑑅, नेपाः गाः), National Capital Area, is a bowl-shaped valley located in the Himalayas, Hima ...
shutdown on the day to prevent the event. * – Kathya Saldaña had problems with the regional organisation and didn't obtain a South African visa in time. * – Due to lack of funding and sponsorship * – Due to lack of funding and sponsorship * – Mireille Nederbiel was not allowed to compete in Miss World by the decision of pageant organizers.


References

{{Miss World countries and territories Miss World 2008 in South Africa 2008 beauty pageants Beauty pageants in South Africa December 2008 in South Africa 2000s in Johannesburg Events in Johannesburg