Mexican volunteer crowned Miss World

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SANYA, China, Dec 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A Mexican model and volunteer was
crowned Miss World at a glitzy event on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan
on Saturday.

Miss Mexico Vanessa Ponce de Leon, 26, has a degree in international
business, volunteers for “Migrantes en el Camino” and is on the board of
directors of a rehab centre for girls, according to the Miss World website.

She was crowned as the 68th Miss World by last year’s winner, Manushi
Chhillar of India, in the coastal city of Sanya.

The colourful ceremony included US group Sister Sledge performing their
1979 disco anthem “We Are Family.”

First runner up was Thailand’s Nicolene Pichapa Limsnukan, a 20-year-old
studying business administration.

Miss Belarus Maria Vasilevich, Miss Jamaica Kadijah Robinson and Miss
Uganda Quiin Abenakyo were also among the final five.

It is the eighth time the Miss World final has been held in Sanya, which
first hosted the pageant in 2003.

At the finals three years ago controversy erupted as officials in Hong Kong
stopped Miss Canada, Anastasia Lin, from boarding a plane bound for Sanya,
telling her she would not receive a visa.

The 25-year old actress claimed the decision was due to her stance on
China’s human rights record, including its persecution of Falun Gong, a
Chinese spiritual group of which she is a practitioner.