Mireia Lalaguna Royo of Spain is crowned Miss World 2015 at the beauty pageant’s 65th grand finals in Sanya in southern China’s Hainan province on Saturday. Contestants from over 110 countries competed. Miss Philippines Hillarie Danielle Parungao landed in the Top 10 and won the Multimedia Award. AFP PHOTO
Spain’s Mireia Lalaguna Royo was crowned Miss World 2015 on Saturday at the Beauty Crown Grand Tree Hotel in Sanya, China—beating more than 100 contenders from all over the globe.
A pharmacy student from Barcelona, the 23-year-old Royo became the first Spaniard to win the title.
“Without the love I have received from all of the people I have met here, and from all of the people wishing me well and supporting me at home, I would never have gotten to this point. I want to show them and the world that I am deserving of the Miss World title and I hope to do everyone proud,” expressed the emotional winner after Miss World 2014 Rolene Strauss of South Africa passed on the crown.
According to the pageant’s official website (www.missworld.com), Royo aspires to further her studies in Nutrition. She also dreams of setting up her own business “to find alternative health solutions to orthodox medicines.”
Royo is also into music, having studied, up to 8th Grade, Musical Language, Harmony and Piano at the Conservatory of the Lyceum of Barcelona. Her other interests are running, reading and skiing.
Sofia Nikitchuk from Russia was first runner-up while Maria Harfanti from Indonesia was second runner-up.
Completing the Top 5 were Lebanon’s Valerie Abou Chacra and Jamaica’s Sanneta Myrie.
Organizers described the three-hour coronation night as a “most innovative and spectacular production.”
The pageant opened with contestants parading down the stage in their national dresses to the dances of China, Slovakia, Zambia, France and Samoa.
Also featured were live performances by Julian Believe, The Wholls and Miss World 2012 Wenxia Yu of the host country.
The night was hosted by Tim Vincent, Angela Chow and Miss World 2013 Megan Young of the Philippines.
Miss Philippines Hillarie Danielle Parungao finished at the Top 10 and won the Multimedia Award.