While it may be becoming increasingly controversial among some people, the tradition of Miss World – at least for now – lives on.
The competition, which was founded in the UK in 1951 by Eric Morley, was originally part of the Festival of Britain celebrations, and was known by the name the Festival Bikini Contest.
In fact, the original purpose of the event was to promote the bikini, a fairly new addition to the fashion market – and it was reportedly the press which dubbed the competition, which at that time was considered by many to be rather immodest, ‘Miss World’.
Eventually, to counteract this, in 1980, the pageant introduced a new slogan: Beauty With a Purpose. Contestants were given the additional challenges of intelligence and personality tests. But this was not enough for the BBC to keep broadcasting the event, ditching it in 1984, after which it was moved to various channels including ITV, Thames Television, Sky One, and Channel 5.
Dropping the show, BBC1 controller Michael Grade said: ‘I believe these contests no longer merit national air time. They are an anachronism in this day and age of equality and verging on the offensive.’
Here, FEMAIL looks at what happened to some of the contestants after they were crowned in the controversial event.
Kaiane Aldorino
After being crowned Miss World in December 2009, Kaiane went on to hold the ceremonial position of mayor of Gibraltar
Kaiane (pictured in 2014) was appointed as the Deputy Mayor of Gibraltar, after becoming the first woman from Gibraltar to win Miss World
Crowned in December 2009, Kaiane made history with her victory as the first ever Miss Gibraltar to be crowned Miss World.
She was the first Gibraltarian woman not only to win a major pageant, but to ever reach the semi-finals of a major one.
And the pageant winner, who was born in 1986, arguably refutes Michael Grade’s opinion that these contestants are an ‘anachronism’ which fail to ‘merit air time’.
After all, she had impressive achievements under her belt: Kaiane is a Gibraltarian politician – between 2017 and 2019, she held the ceremonial position of mayor.
Preceded by a stint as Deputy Mayor, which began in 2014, she became mayor of the territory in 2017.
On top of this, in 2018, Kaiane took part in a twinning ceremony between Gibraltar and Jamaica. She was part of a delegation that travelled to Jamaica in 2019 to consolidate the agreement.
She has also carried out philanthropic gestures, donating $10,000 received from the Miss World Organization to the Rainbow Ward at St Bernard’s Hospital and St Martin’s School in 2018.
Kaiane, the first woman to receive the Freedom of the City in Gibraltar, visited more than 40 countries during her reign.
Linor Abargil
After winning Miss World in 1998 , Linor Abargil (pictured left and right), eventually enrolled in law school, and made a documentary fighting sexual violence
Israeli Linor Abargil, who was born in 1980, won Miss World in 1998. Her victory came after she had signed with Look modeling agency in 1996.
It also followed Linor being raped at knifepoint in 1998 while in Milan, an event which would inspire her to become a global advocate fighting against sexual violence.
Despite the violence of the attack, and despite arresting the rapist, Italian authorities declined to prosecute and released the attacker.
The trauma of the attack made it difficult for Linor to deal with her public duties and fame after winning the Miss World title.
After frustration at the Italian authorities’ refusal to prosecute, Linor then reported the attack to Israeli authorities.
They were more proactive, issuing an arrest warrant for the rapist, and beginning extradition proceedings.
After her Miss World win, Linor continued modelling and did some acting.
Eventually, however, she decided to give up modelling and instead enrolled in law school, planning to use her education to fight sexual violence.
In 2008, Linor became the subject of a documentary she initiated about her rape and subsequent activism, titled Brave Miss World.
Premiering on Israeli television in 2013 and screening at multiple film festivals in the United States and Europe throughout 2013 and 2014, the film was praised and nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Documentary Film.
Now a mother-of-four, Linor was admitted to the Israeli Bar in 2019.
Mary Stävin
Swede Mary Stävin was crowned Miss World in 1977. After being crowned, she had relationships with Don Shanks and George Best, and appeared in two James Bond films
Swede Mary Stävin, who was born in Örebro County in 1957 was crowned Miss World in 1977.
After winning the pageant, she appeared in some of the most prolific films of all the winners.
She started her acting career seriously in the early 80s, with roles in two music videos Ant Rap and Strip – both for Adam Ant.
Mary also enjoyed appearances in two James Bond films: Octopussy, where she played an Octopussy girl, and A View to a Kill, playing agent Kimberley Jones, a larger role among other films. She also appeared in TV show Twin Peaks.
Famously, Bond Roger Moore wrote of the model and actress ‘floating away on board a submarine with Mary Stavin must be many men’s dream’.
The win also meant she enjoyed a prolific dating life, seeing footballer Don Shanks from 1978 to 1982, and George Best from 1982 to 1985. The two worked together on an exercise album titled Shape Up and Dance.
Mary now lives in California with her second husband businessman Nicholas Wilcockson, who she wed in 1995, and the couple’s daughter.
Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite ‘Agbani’ Darego
Known widely as Agbani Darego, Nigerian Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite ‘Agbani’ Darego was the first black African woman to be crowned Miss World
Nigerian Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite ‘Agbani’ Darego was the first black African woman in the competition’s history to be crowned Miss World.
The model and beauty queen, who was born in 1982, was named winner of the competition in 2001 (she won Miss Universe that same year).
While she had some modelling experience before winning the competitions, after picking up the tandem crowns for Miss World and Miss Universe in 2001, her career skyrocketed.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell invited her to take part in charity fashion Frock ‘n’ Roll in Barcelona, and she negotiated a modelling contract with American agency Trump Model Management.
Following her reign as Miss World, the London and Paris branches of Next Model Management represented her, winning her a three-year contract with L’Oréal (making her the second black model to do so).
The list of major brands Agbani has modelled for include Christian Dior and Sephora among many others.
Denise Perrier
After being crowned Miss France when she was 18-years-old, Denise Perrier, who was born in 1935 in France scooped the Miss World title
Denise Perrier, who was born in 1935, is the only French Miss World winner. The former French actress, model and beauty queen picked up the crown in 1953.
Both before and after the victory, she has enjoyed some impressive achievements.
When she was 18 years old, Denise was invited to compete in the Miss Saint-Raphaël beauty pageant contest – which she won.
The victory led to her participation (and victory) in Miss France, then in 1953 she was crowned Miss World.
Following the victory, Denise appeared in a number of films, most memorably, 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever.
She had a total career change after giving up modelling, moving to local government, working for the Mayor of Nice Jacques Médecin.
Denise has judged a number of Miss World competitions, in 2005, 2010, 2011 and 2013.
Rosemarie Frankland
Rosemarie Frankland (pictured) won the Miss World crown in 1961, after finishing as a runner-up in the Miss Universe 1961 competition
Born in Wales in 1943, before moving to England as a child, Rosemarie enjoyed visiting a number of countries and throughout her lifetime (she died in 2000).
Rosemarie won the Miss World crown in 1961 (after previously finishing as a runner-up in the Miss Universe 1961 competition).
Taking part in a lot of pageants, Rosemarie first won Miss Wales, before becoming Miss London in 1961.
She was crowned Miss Wales by Bob Hope who described her as ‘the most beautiful girl he had ever seen’.
She is said to have had an affair with Hope lasting many years, before becoming his personal assistant.
Meanwhile, professionally, she enjoyed a short acting career including a role in the 1965 film, I’ll Take Sweden starring Bob Hope.
Rosemarie married Grass Roots singer/guitarist Warren Entner in 1970, with the couple having a daughter together in 1976, before divorcing in 1981.
Ann Sidney
Hairdressing apprentice Ann Sidney was crowned Miss World in 1964, becoming an actress after her tenure
Born in the UK in 1944, Ann Sidney took a hairdressing apprenticeship before deciding she’d rather try her hand at modelling.
She had some success and was crowned Miss World in 1964, becoming the second woman from her country to be crowned after Rosemarie Frankland.
Her reign as Miss World allowed her to see much of the world, and Ann travelled around the globe five times during her tenure – joining Bob Hope on his USO tour of Asia.
After giving up the title, Ann enjoyed a successful acting career.
Her credits included roles on the TV show The Avengers and Are You Being Served? among others.
She also appeared in a number of films, including (but not limited to) spy thriller Sebastian, and Performance (1970) with James Fox and Mick Jagger.
Reita Faria
Reita Faria, who won the Miss World title in 1966 ended up making a major career change, eventually practising medicine
Born in India in 1943, Reita Faria scooped the Miss World title in 1966, before her career took a major turn.
Reita is well-known for being the first winner of Miss World to qualify as a medical doctor.
As a tall adolescent, Reita was mocked and called ‘mommy long legs’, however, her height would go on to serve her well, both in playing sport at school and in her pageant career.
Despite being offered a range of acting roles and lucrative modelling contracts during her year-long tenure a Miss World, she turned them down.
Instead, Reita studied medicine at the Grant Medical College & Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals followed by King’s College Hospital, London.
In 1971, she wed her mentor David Powell, with the couple moving to Dublin in 1973, where she started practising medicine.
Marjorie Wallace
1973 Miss World winner Majorie Wallace (pictured with Tom Jones) in 1976, three years after having her title removed by organisers
After being crowned in 1973, US winner Majorie Wallace, born in 1954, made history as the first American woman to be crowned Miss World.
While in the UK in the early 70s to compete for the crown, she defeated 53 competitors at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
And she enjoyed dating some of the most prolific celebrities, including George Best and Tom Jones
She would go on to make history 104 days later, but this time, for a more negative reason.
Organisers decided to take away her crown as punishment for having an affair, making her the first winner to lose her title this way, just 104 days after acquiring it.
However, it did not stop the beauty pageant entrant, who was born in Indianapolis, from enjoying a career in entertainment.
As an original co-host, Majorie helped launch the television programme Entertainment Tonight some years later.
Moving to LA in the 70s, Marjorie appeared on several television programmes including Baretta, Get Christie Love! and Match Game.
Helen Elizabeth Morgan
Brit Helen Morgan, who was crowned in 1974, had her reign cut short after it was discovered that she was an unwed mother with a n 18-month-old son – despite this not being against the rules
The next winner, Brit Helen Morgan who was born in 1952 and was crowned in 1974, also made history, but for a different reason.
Helen became the first winner to resign, making her the second winner (after Marjorie, just one year before) to cut her reign short.
The Staffordshire-based banker, who entered modelling competitions on a part-time basis, scooped both Miss Wales and Miss United Kingdom in 1974.
Her victory in Miss United Kingdom allowed Helen to enter Miss World, which she went on to win.
However, after only four days, she became the subject of lurid headlines when it was discovered that she was an unwed mother with a n 18-month-old son.
Despite not breaking competition rules, pressure from organisers, who felt embarrassed, led her to give up the title.
Although she lost the Miss World title, as Miss Wales and Miss United Kingdom Helen decided to leave her role at the bank, taking up a career in modelling, TV and films instead.
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