Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Miss World 2014 is Miss South Africa

Congratulations, Miss South Africa!

Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss is the new queen of the world, while Miss Malaysia Dewi Liana Seriestha places in the Top 25 and wins the talent competition!

Rolene Strauss, a 22-year-old South African, has won the Miss World 2014 pageant in London, the organisers said in a statement released on Sunday Dec 14. Hungary’s Edina Kulcsár came second and Elizabeth Safrit, representing the US, came third. Miss World 2014 pageant was held at the ExCel Centre in east London.

Rolene Strauss of South Africa (centre) reacts after being crowned Miss World 2014. – Reuters/Toby Melville

Strauss is the third South African to hold the Miss World title and puts the country just behind Venezuela (6), India (5) and the United Kingdom (4) for total number of wins. However, South Africa does have the longest gap between wins – Strauss’ victory comes 40 years after Anneline Kriel inherited the crown in 1974. Penelope Ann Coelen was the first South African to win the pageant in 1958.

Miss World, the crowning moment..

Miss World (Miss South Africa) at the Oxford Debate. What a speech!

Meanwhile, Dewi Liana Seriestha from Kuching, Sarawak represented Malaysia. The 25-year-old performing arts student from ASWARA placed in the Top 25 and won the talent competition. Well done!


Dewi clinched the title after a live sing-off against Miss Scotland where she performed a stirring rendition of Don Juan Triumphant from the 1989 film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera.

Other than classical opera, which she picked up at the National Academy of Arts, Culture & Heritage (Aswara) – Dewi can also sing in over eight languages including Tagalog, Spanish, Mandarin and Hindi.

Each year at Miss World the contestants are encouraged to partake in a charitable project which enriches the lives of others through hard work, selfless acts and fundraising.

As varied as the contestants themselves, the projects are inspiring to behold, and are their 'Beauty with a Purpose'. Although there are many great projects, only one can be chosen as the winner of the Beauty with a Purpose Award, an accolade presented at the Miss World Final, on Sunday the 14th of December.

This is Miss Malaysia's project.. Commendable!

More information on Beauty with a Purpose @ http://www.beautywithapurpose.com

(L-R) Miss India Koyal Rana, Miss Kenya Idah Nguma, Miss Brazil Julia Gama, Miss Indonesia Maria Asteria Sastrayu Rahajeng and Miss Malaysia Dewi Liana Seriestha react after winning the charity section of the Miss World 2014 pageant. – EPA/Facundo Arrizabalaga

Previous Miss Malaysia queens who won a Miss World placing include Deborah Henry (Top 16 in 2007), Arianna Teoh (Top 10 in 1997) and Rahima Orchient Yayah, the last Malay winner from Malaysia (Top 10 in 1994). Lina Teoh remains the most successful Miss Malaysia World, placing 2nd runner up at the Miss World finals in 1998.

Sources:
- Med student, 22, ends South Africa’s 40-year drought at Miss World pageant
- M’sian beauty lets her talent shine



1 comment:

  1. Congratulations to the winner

    Maybe next year Ms Malaysia can be Ms World

    ReplyDelete