Miss World facts for kids

For the most recent competition, see Miss World 2025. For other uses, see Miss World (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids
Miss World

Type	International women's beauty pageant
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
First edition	1951
Most recent edition	2025
Current titleholder	Suchata Chuangsri Thailand
Founder	Eric Morley
President	Julia Morley
Language/s	English

Miss World is the world's oldest international beauty pageant. It was started in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. After he passed away in 2000, his wife, Julia Morley, took over running the pageant.

Miss World is considered one of the "Big Four" international beauty pageants, along with Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss Earth.

The current Miss World is Suchata Chuangsri from Thailand. She won the crown on May 31, 2025, in Hyderabad, India.

History of the Pageant
The Miss World Organization
Challenges and Controversies
Fast-Track Events
Recent Miss World Winners
- Winners Gallery
See also

History of the Pageant

How It All Began

In 1951, Eric Morley created a bikini contest as part of the Festival of Britain. The newspapers loved it and called it "Miss World." The first winner was Kerstin "Kiki" Hakansson from Sweden. She was crowned while wearing a bikini, which caused a lot of debate at the time.

The pageant was supposed to be a one-time event. But it was so popular that Morley decided to hold it every year. Because some people were upset about the bikini, future contestants wore more modest swimwear. Starting in 1976, winners were crowned in beautiful evening gowns instead of swimsuits.

Growing Popularity

In 1959, the BBC started showing the pageant on TV. This made Miss World incredibly popular. During the 1960s and 1970s, it was one of the most-watched shows in Britain.

However, the pageant also faced protests. In 1970, protesters disrupted the show in London. That same year, South Africa was banned from the contest because of its policy of apartheid (racial separation).

In the 1980s, the pageant changed its focus. It introduced the slogan "Beauty With a Purpose" to show that contestants were also judged on their intelligence, personality, and charity work.

The Pageant in the 21st Century

In 2000, Eric Morley passed away, and his wife Julia took charge of the Miss World organization. The following year, Agbani Darego of Nigeria became the first black African woman to be crowned Miss World.

The pageant has sometimes been held in places facing difficult situations. In 2002, the event was planned for Nigeria. A woman there, Amina Lawal, was facing a very harsh punishment. By holding the pageant in Nigeria, Miss World brought worldwide attention to her case and helped her.

The COVID-19 pandemic also affected the pageant. The 2020 event was canceled, and the 2021 finals in Puerto Rico were postponed after some contestants and staff tested positive for the virus. The show was successfully held a few months later in March 2022.

The Miss World Organization

Ivian Sarcos, Miss World 2011, visits a school in Mumbai, India, as part of her "Beauty With a Purpose" work.

The Miss World Organization runs the yearly pageant. A big part of its work is the "Beauty with a Purpose" program. This program has raised over £1 billion for charities that help children with disabilities and those in need.

More than 100 countries have a Miss World franchise, meaning they can send a contestant to the international finals.

Challenges and Controversies

Over the years, the Miss World pageant has faced some difficult moments.

1970: Protesters threw flour bombs during the live event in London's Royal Albert Hall.
1973: The winner, Marjorie Wallace, had her title taken away because she did not fulfill her duties.
1976: Several countries boycotted the pageant to protest South Africa's policy of apartheid.
1980: The winner from Germany, Gabriella Brum, gave up her title just one day after winning. It was later found she had broken the pageant's rules.
2002: The pageant was moved from Nigeria to London after riots broke out over a newspaper article.
2013: Protests in Indonesia meant the pageant events could only be held on the island of Bali.
2015: Miss World Canada, Anastasia Lin, was not allowed to enter China for the finals because she had spoken out about human rights issues in the country.

Fast-Track Events

To get into the semi-finals, contestants compete in several "fast-track" events. Winning one of these events guarantees a spot in the next round. These challenges help show off the contestants' different skills and qualities.

The main fast-track events are:

Beauty With a Purpose: Contestants present their charity projects. This is considered the most important award.
Talent: Contestants showcase a special skill, like singing or dancing.
Top Model: A modeling competition that judges poise and runway skills.
Sports Challenge: An athletic competition to find the most physically fit contestant.
Multimedia: Contestants are judged on how well they use social media to share their journey.

Recent Miss World Winners

Year	Country or territory	Miss World	National title	Location	Number of entrants
2025	Thailand	Suchata Chuangsri	Miss Thailand World 2025	Hyderabad, India	108
2024		No pageant was held.
2023	Czech Republic	Krystyna Pyszková	Miss Czech Republic 2022	Mumbai, India	112
2022		No pageant was held.
2021	Poland	Karolina Bielawska	Miss Polonia 2019	San Juan, Puerto Rico	97
2020		No pageant was held due to the COVID-19 pandemic