Russia wins Miss World 2008

Ms Russia is Miss World, Ms India 1st runner up

Miss Russia has been crowned Miss World 2008 at a glittering ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Miss India Parvathy Omanakuttan has finished as the first runner up. Miss Trinidad and Tobago is the second runner-up.

Among the other five finalists are Ms Angola, Ms Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Russia and Ms South Africa.

The final round was being held in Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg and the country was said to be expecting one billion-strong TV audience for the event aired on Zee Cafe

Exuding charm in her white gown, Parvathy cat-walked confidently on the stage to answer her question in the final round. She was asked what being in South Africa meant for her. To this she compared the "similarity in the cultures" of India and South Africa and thanked the locals for their hospitality. She also compared legends Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi and how inextricably linked the two countries' fates have been.

Earlier, a collective cheer went up in the audience when Paravathy’s name was announced at the end of a 15-name long list of semi finalists.

Other semi-finalists included Ms Trinidad and Tobago, Ms US, Ms Guatemala, Ms Venezuela, Ms Ukraine, Ms Croatia, Ms Brazil, Ms Angola, Ms Kazakhstan, Ms Puerto Rico, Ms Spain, Ms Russia and Ms South Africa.

Who is Parvathy?

Twenty-one-year-old Parvathy stands tall at 5 feet 9 inches and hails from Kerala.

Two days before the final round, she appeared sure of her victory and said she was confident of carrying forward the legacy of India’s glamour queens Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan (1994), Priyanka Chopra (2000), Diana Hayden (1997) and Yukta Mookhey (1999).

"I am very much confident about my victory. Femina Miss India World is not merely a crown of joy for me. With the crown, the responsibility of upholding the name of the country has also fallen on my shoulders," she said in a statement.

Asked on December 11, about her preparations for the pageant, Parvathy said, "Preparations have started ever since I won the Femina Miss India contest in April this year. Apart from just concentrating on my appearance, I am trying to be a stronger person to face the contest." "I'll try my level best to make every Indian all over the world proud," Parvathy said.

Born on July 23, this Cancerian charmer's "never say die" attitude has helped her conquer one beauty pageant after another- be it the Navy Queen contest held in connection with the annual Navy Ball or Femina Miss India, South held in Hyderabad last year.