The oldest international beauty pageant still in existence is Miss World. The Miss World Pageant took place on July 27, 1951, 71 years ago. London is home to the Miss World beauty pageant’s headquarters. Its headquarters are in the UK. English is the contest’s official language. Kiki Haakonson, a contestant from Sweden, won the inaugural Miss World crown at what was supposed to be a one-time event associated with the Festival of Britain in London’s Lyceum Ballroom.
It was the idea of Eric Morley, a former orphan from London who went on to serve as an Army captain during the war and became a highly successful self-made entertainment businessman. In 1951, Eric Morley invented it in the UK. Julia Morley, Morley’s widow, has served as the pageant’s co-chair since her husband’s passing in 2000. It is one of the “Big Four” international beauty pageants, along with Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss Earth. Through “Beauty with a Purpose,” Miss World promotes social justice causes.
The Miss World Organization owns and oversees the annual Miss World Finals, one of the greatest beauty pageants in the world. The Miss World Organization has raised more than £1 billion for organisations that support disadvantaged and disabled children since its founding in 1951. More than 100 nations have franchises for Miss World.
If a person wants to compete in the Miss World beauty pageant, they must meet the eligibility requirements, which include being between the ages of 17 and 27. The competitors should not be married, expecting, or parenting a child. Before the final competition, contestants are judged in a number of preliminary competitions, such as the talent round, the beauty with a purpose round, and the head-to-head challenge. To conveniently travel abroad, the candidates must possess a valid passport. No one with a criminal record or legal issues is allowed to compete in the prestigious Miss World competition.
In 1951, Eric Morley hosted the Festival Bikini Contest, the precursor to today’s Miss World Pageant, in London’s Lyceum Ballroom. The moniker “Miss World” was nonetheless later given to the precursor to today’s Miss World Pageant, in London’s Lyceum Ballroom. The moniker “Miss World” was nonetheless later given to it. The family continues to be in charge of the event even today. A lovely fusion of glitz and altruism may be found here. Initially, Miss World was intended to be a one-time event. Morley decided to make the Miss Universe pageant an annual event, though, after learning about the approaching competition. The event’s purpose, which is why it was given the name “Festival Bikni,” was to promote the then-current swimwear. Press outlets gave it the name “Miss World,” which the organisers later adopted.
The bikinis were swapped out for swimwear after the first competition. The popularity of the pageant increased steadily with the introduction of television. While Channel 5 first broadcast the competition in 1998, the BBC started doing so in 1959. In order to keep the pageant contemporary, the organisers decided to reposition it under the slogan “Beauty with a Purpose” in the 1980s. There were also personality and intelligence tests added. The goal was to make the occasion politically correct
The 1970 competition was also contentious since South Africa sent two competitors (one black and one white). In the future, South Africa was prohibited from competing in the competition until apartheid was ended. At its height in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the pageant attracted more than 18 million viewers. After Eric Morley’s passing in 2000, his wife Julia took over as head of the Miss World organization. Later, in 2001, Agbani Darego became the competition’s first black African winner. A fresh marketing approach was used by Miss World, and it was also effective. The coordinators unveiled the You Decide television special, which featured the delegates on the beach and in backstage scenes. Viewers could now vote for their preferred contestants online or by phone. The competition has been broadcast on the local TV station London Live since 2014.
In beauty pageants, a girl might experience feeling like royalty thanks to gorgeous cosmetics and shimmering clothes. The Miss World pageant is one of the most prestigious ones in the group. In addition to emphasising the traditional elements of beauty and skill, Miss International promotes worldwide action and involvement in order to help girls develop into well-rounded individuals.
The Miss World pageant’s motto is “Beauty with A Purpose.” This indicates that the Miss World organisation seeks candidates who can promote humanitarian objectives in addition to having a beautiful face. Therefore, the major requirements for Miss World are global awareness and activism. The judges choose the winner based on the participants’ prior performances, which may have included their talents or level of fitness.