Miss Venezuela is Miss World, first runner up is Miss Philippines

A 22-year-old human resources graduate from Venezuela was crowned Miss World in a glittering ceremony in London, Sunday. Ivian Sarcos, Miss Venezuela, bested more than one hundred contestants from around the world to bag the coveted crown.

Alexandria Mills, last year's winner who hails from the United States, placed the Miss World crown on her successor's head. “I believe that the next Miss World should be a woman of responsibility and reason,” Sarcos said before winning the title. “I believe the woman should be committed to the organization and help people in need. Beauty with a heart”, added the Venezuelan, who works for a broadcasting company and has a degree in human resources. Gwendoline Ruais, Miss Philippines, was named runner-up. She will succeed Miss Venezuela as Miss World if anything happens during her reign. Miss Puerto Rico came third in the contest. During the ceremonies, a group of feminists chanted outside carrying placards protesting against the competition which they said won't achieve world peace. In a Telegraph report, "Laura Coleman, a former Miss England, asked protesters not to attend the event, arguing that pageants empower women." "Appreciating beauty should not cause anger," she said, "Women enter beauty pageants at their own will, they are not forced into it. I don't understand why feminists think it is degrading, as pageants are actually empowering women. "Ask any of the contestants. Pageants give the girls confidence and give them opportunities they may not otherwise have had and I can speak from experience." The ceremonies were broadcast in over 150 countries around the world and were reportedly watched by about a billion people. According to the beauty pageant organizers, next year's search for new Miss World will be held in Mongolia.