Miss World 2021 finally crowned after Covid-19 delays


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

Beauty queens flocked to Puerto Rico on Wednesday once again for the finals of Miss World 2021 after the event was delayed from December following an outbreak of Covid-19 among contestants.

Scroll through the gallery above to see photos of the contestants in Puerto Rico in December.

Reigning Miss World, Toni-Ann Singh from Jamaica, the longest title-holder in history, took to the stage to perform a rendition of Never Enough from The Greatest Showman, before crowning her successor.

Poland's Karolina Bielawska took the title of Miss World 2021, with Shree Saini from the US as first runner-up and Olivia Yace from Cote d'Ivoire as second runner-up.

The other candidates in the top six were Pricilia Carla Yules from Indonesia, Karolina Vidales from Mexico and Anna Leitch from Northern Ireland.

Manasa Varanasi from India was in the top 12, as did Miss Philippines Tracy Maureen Perez, an engineer and host, who wore a gown by Filipino designer Harvey Cenit, who lives and works in the UAE.

Miss Somalia Khadija Omar, the first hijab-wearing Miss World contestant, made the top 40.

The finals, which were hosted by British singer Peter Andre and Mexican star Fernando Allende, took place at the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

During the pageant, a 70-piece Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra performed while candles were also lit for Ukraine as the Russian invasion continues. Candidates sang Andrea Bocelli’s The Prayer, asking for peace for Ukrainians, and Miss World Ukraine 2016 Oleksandra Kucherenko shared her experiences in a video message.

It is the 70th iteration of the event, which was launched in 1951 by Eric Morley, who became known as "Mr World″ after he founded the famed beauty pageant.

The competition was created in the UK and is the oldest-running international beauty pageant. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has been co-chairwoman of the event.

To enter, contestants must be unmarried and childless, between the ages of 17 and 27 and be a resident of the country they represent.

The event, which was planned for December 2021, was rescheduled for March 16 after a Covid-19 outbreak during the preliminary rounds at the pageant in Puerto Rico.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai

Gulf Under 19

Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy

Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2

Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina

Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School

A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

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The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Updated: March 17, 2022, 7:33 AM`