Mexico Wins Its First Miss World Crown

Vanessa Ponce de León, a 26-year-old model from Mexico, was crowned Miss World 2018 on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan on Saturday, December 8. Ponce is the first woman from her country to win the coveted title. She was crowned by last year's winner, Manushi Chhillar from India. 

Ponce de León has a degree in international business and volunteers for "Migrantes en el Camino". She is also on the board of directors of a rehab center for girls, according to the Miss World website.

This year, the top five consisted of the winners of the Continental Queens category: Miss World Americas (Mexico), Miss World Africa (Uganda), Miss World Caribbean (Jamaica), Miss World Europe (Belarus) and Miss World Asia & Oceania (Thailand). However, after Mexico was selected as Miss World, the second placer in the Miss World Americas category, Panama's Solaris Barba was declared as the new continental queen for the Americas.

Top five (L-R): Belarus, Jamaica, Mexico, Uganda, Thailand

Rounding up the top 12 were the delegates from France, Martinique, Mauritius, Nepal, New Zealand, Panama and Scotland. Completing the top 30 included the delegates from ompared to previous years' announcement of results, besides the winner, only the first runner-up was announced - Thailand's  Nicolene Limsnukan. Miss Belarus Maria Vasilevich, Miss Jamaica Kadijah Robinson and Miss Uganda Quiin Abenakyo were also among the final five. This is eighth time that the Miss World pageant has been held in Sanya, which first hosted the event in 2003.

 Photo credit: Miss World Organization