Beijing:Twenty-three-year-old Zhang Zilin, who mesmerised the judges and millions of viewers world-wide with her beautiful smile, did China proud by winning for the first time the coveted Miss World 2007 title at a star-studded ceremony today in the southern Chinese city of Sanya.
The six feet tall Beijing-based secretary out shone 105 contestants including Miss India Sarah-Jane Dias. She was the pre-contest favourite with British bookmakers, along with Miss Dominican Republic.
Dias did not find a place in the final five. Miss Angola came second and Miss Mexico third at the beauty pageant. The other two finalists were Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden.
An impressive cast of international stars and music artists ensured that the 57th Miss World Final was a dazzling event.
"There are 1.3 billion people behind me," Zilin said during the 40-second interview stage of the contest, referring to her country's population.
"If I win, I want to become a link between the Olympic Games (in Beijing next year) and the Miss World Organisation."
"I want to use the power and beauty of Miss World to support those in need," she said.
The TV spectacular was hosted by top Chinese TV presenter Angela Chow, presenting Miss World for the fifth year in succession, alongside co-host Fernando Allende, who is one of Latin America's biggest stars and was making his Miss World debut.
The contestants were rated on an array of disciplines including physical fitness, style, dress, personality and beauty.
The Miss World contest is world's one of the largest live annual TV event with global viewing figures topping two billion across 174 countries.
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