Final Countdown to the 57th Annual Miss World Spectacular

There’s just a week to go before some 115 contestants arrive in the tropical island paradise of Sanya, the southernmost point of China, for a month-long festival building up to the 2007 Miss World grand final. It will be the biggest and most dynamic festival and finale in the competition’s 57 year history.

From Angola to Albania, China to Costa Rica, El Salvador to Ethiopia, Gibraltar to Guatemala, Iceland to India, Kazakhstan to Korea, Malaysia to Mongolia, Panama to Poland, Sri Lanka to Scotland, Uganda to the USA and Wales to Zimbabwe, contestants will start arriving on 1st November from the four corners of the globe.

Building on its longstanding theme of “Beauty with a Purpose”, which has seen the Miss World Organisation raise over £250 million for charity, Miss World 2007 will be focusing on the fight against Aids. 1st December, when the grand final will take place, is World Aids Day and during their stay the contestants will be helping to raise vital funds towards the building of medical centres across China.

China’s most iconic locations, The Great Wall, The Forbidden City and The Summer Palace, will be visited by the contestants who will experience the magic of Beijing as it gears up for the 2008 Olympics. The Red Cross Ball in the Great Hall of the People will be a glittering affair when gifts brought from their home countries by the contestants will be auctioned for charity.

Another spectacular Miss World festival highlight will be the Dynasties Fashion Show where contestants will appear in costumes from China’s greatest historic dynasties – it promises to be one of the most visually stunning fashion shows ever staged. The Talent Final and Beach Fashion Show will be other popular highlights.

The 57th Miss World is a celebration of beauty, culture, fashion, peace and understanding, set against a background of achievement and excellence, an example to young women all over the world of what they can accomplish. It is about raising money for vital causes, bringing hope, uniting people and most of all using the Miss World Crown as a humanitarian symbol wherever it is needed in the world.

Julia Morley, Chairman of the Miss World Organisation, said: “We are very proud to have so many nations coming together for one month and joining the world forum for Beauty with a Purpose. We aim to make it a magical and rewarding experience for all the contestants.”

Hightlights :

2nd November : Arrival of Contestants
Contestants arrive in Sanya
8th November : Welcome Dinner
At the Crowne Plaza Sanya
10th November : Beach Fashion Show and Beach Party
16th November: Hainan Carnival Parade Boao
Half a million people are expected to line the route where contestants will meet the Chinese Public
20th November: Contestants visit Beijing sites: Great
Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace
21st November: Red Cross Ball in the Great Hall of The People, Beijing
24th November: Dynasties Fashion Show at the Crowne Plaza Sanya
Contestants will be appearing in costumes from China’s greatest dynasties
26th November: Family Party with best of Talent
1st December: Miss World Pageant Coronation Ball
Finale Show Spectacular that will include a special message from a very honoured guest


Notes to Editors:

THE MISS WORLD ORGANISATION owns and manages the annual Miss World Finals, a competition that has grown into one of the world’s biggest and most loved events. Miss World is franchised in more than 140 countries and commands the world’s largest annual live TV audience.

SANYA, situated on Hainan Island, the southernmost part of China, lies on the same longitude as Hawaii. Close to Hong Kong and with an average temperature which rarely goes below 25 degrees Celsius, Sanya is fast becoming one of the world’s most sought-after holiday destinations. With 112 miles of coastline including numerous long sandy beaches, the second best quality of air in the entire world, a beautiful landscape and abundant natural resources, most visitors consider it a paradise on earth. The contestants will be staying at the magnificent Crowne Plaza Sanya, one of the leading and most prestigious five star hotels in Yalong Bay.

MISS WORLD IN SANYA: this will be the fourth time that the Miss World finals have been held in Sanya, indicative of the magic of this location. They were first held there in 2003 and again in 2004 and 2005 (in 2006 they were held in Poland). It is as a result of Miss World coming to Sanya that its tourism has increased exponentially thanks to the unprecedented levels of worldwide exposure brought about by the media coverage for this most popular of international events. All the destinations which have hosted the Miss World Finals have experienced a similar phenomenon.