Ordos (China), Aug 19: Miss China won the 2012 Miss World on Saturday, triumphing on home soil in northern China's mining city of Ordos.
Dongsheng stadium, filled by a largely Chinese audience, erupted in cheers when it was announced that the home candidate, Yu Wenxia, had been awarded the title.
Last year's Miss World, Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela, handed over her crown to Yu.
“I am so excited at the moment. I didn't expect I could win the Miss World, “ said Yu Wenxia.
Yu is from northeastern China's Heilongjiang province and she is a graduate of a local music school.
She is the second Miss China to win the Miss Worldpageant, after Chinese model Zhang Zilin won the title in 2007.
A total of 116 contestants, the highest number ever, took to the stage during the contest.
The final of this year's Miss World was expected to be watched by about a (b) billion people around the globe.
The northeastern city of Ordos, around 700 kilometres (440 miles) from the nearest beach, is an unusual venue for the world's biggest beauty pageant.
Besides the traditional swimsuits and evening gowns, participants also donned outlandish costumes, with some dressed as belly dancers.
The beauty queens have been in China rehearsing for nearly a month, soaking up traditional Mongolian culture by churning yoghurt in a nomad's yurt and donning local attire to climb a sand dune.
