Puerto Rico takes the crown

USA - Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico was crowned Miss World 2016 on Sunday, edging out runners-up from the Dominican Republic and Indonesia winning the top prize in the 66th edition of the pageant held this year in the United States.

Del Valle, 19, is a brown-eyed brunette student who speaks Spanish, English and French, and hopes to get into the entertainment industry. The part-time model and musician, who is currently studying at Pace University in New York, stunned in a pale pink tulle gown studded with hundreds of diamantes and featuring a cut-out bodice with a plunging neckline.

Crowned by Miss World 2015 Mireia Lalaguna of Spain, Del Valle called it an “honor and a great responsibility” to represent her Caribbean homeland. She becomes the second titleholder from the island after Wilnelia Merced won the title in 1975.

First runner-up of the 2016 edition of the pageant held at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, was Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez of the Dominican Republic, followed by Miss World Indonesia Natasha Mannuela. Contestants from more than 100 countries took part in the 2016 edition of the beauty pageant. Contestants from Kenya and Catriona Gray of the Philippines also were in the final five.

None of the UK representatives at the contest made it to the top 20. England was represented by 20-year-old psychology student Elizabeth Grant, Northern Ireland by 21-year-old psychology student Emma Carswell, Scotland by 19-year-old student Lucy Kerr and Wales by 23-year-old health and beauty consultant Ffion Georgina Moyle.

(telegraph.co.uk)