Miss World 2021

Poland wins 70th crown, Philippines in Top 12

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Miss World Poland 2021 Karolina Bielawska was crowned the 70th Miss World winner at the culmination of a slow-paced production from the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Shree Saini of the United States and Olivia Yace of Cote D'Ivoire were her runners-up in descending order. Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez was fortunate to be part of the Top 12.

The three other lucky candidates who made it to the Top 6 were Indonesia, Northern Ireland, and Mexico while the other ladies who made it to the Top 12 were Somalia, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, India and Vietnam, winner of the Digital Media challenge. Kiki Hakansson of Sweden was the world's first pageant titleholder.

The show opened with a pre-recorded production number from the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot with all 97 delegates performing the 'Dances of the World' with a troupe of Latin dancers.

The 70-piece Puerto Rico Philharmonic supplied the evening's big band theme that resonated the very first Miss World pageant in 1951 at the Lyceum Theater in London. 

As an organization with a heart for charity, the Miss World Organization started its Beauty with a Purpose (BWAP) fast track challenge in 1972. This year, it collaborated with Puerto Rican entity, Integro Foundation, and was able to gather $14-million, including a $250,000 revenue from auctioned items brought by the candidates themselves.

A poignant moment happened during the pre-coronation rites when the organization, together with the judges and Top 40 candidates, gave a tribute to Miss World Ukraine in support of her efforts to stop the war instigated by Russia on her country.

Miss World Poland Karolina Bielawska was crowned by the pageant's longest reigning titleholder, Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica. The 70th Miss World final show was beamed live to a nationwide audience through the CNN Philippines network. Pageant fans who missed the live broadcast may catch the replay tonight at 10 pm in the same channel.