Miss World 2003
Encyclopedia
Miss World 2003, the 53rd Miss World
pageant was held at Crown of Beauty Theatre, Sanya
, People's Republic of China
on 6 December 2003. The pageant was presented by Phil Keoghan
, Amanda Byram
and Angela Chow
. The contestants also visited Beijing
, the national capital of People's Republic of China, Shanghai
and Xi'an
. Miss World 2002, Azra Akın
of Turkey
crowned her successor Rosanna Davison
of Ireland
, the daughter of popular musician Chris de Burgh
, claiming Ireland's first major beauty pageant title. 106 contestants from all over the world competed for the crown, marking at that time, the biggest edition in the pageant history. It is now the third largest edition of the pageant, tied with Miss World 2007.
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
pageant was held at Crown of Beauty Theatre, Sanya
Sanya
Sanya is the southernmost city in China and is a part of Hainan Province. In 2006, it had a population of 536,000, making it, after the provincial capital , the second most populous city on the island. The city is renowned for its tropical climate and has emerged as a popular tourist destination,...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
on 6 December 2003. The pageant was presented by Phil Keoghan
Phil Keoghan
Philip John "Phil" Keoghan is a New Zealand-born television personality, best known for hosting the U.S. version of The Amazing Race on CBS, since its 2001 debut. He is also the creator and host of No Opportunity Wasted, which has been produced in the United States, New Zealand, and Canada...
, Amanda Byram
Amanda Byram
Amanda Byram is an Irish television presenter, originally from Castleknock in Dublin, Ireland.-Early life:Formerly a model, Byram started her career on television in 1999 presenting the TV3 morning show Ireland AM with Mark Cagney, during which time she met her then boyfriend comedian Patrick...
and Angela Chow
Angela Chow
Angela Chow is a Canadian-raised actress and presenter of Chinese ethnicity known for hosting Miss World 2003 until Miss World 2012 as well as currently having her own talk shows Good Morning China and Du Bao Magazine Critique....
. The contestants also visited Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, the national capital of People's Republic of China, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
. Miss World 2002, Azra Akın
Azra Akin
Azra Akın is a Dutch born Turkish model and actress. She is a beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World 2002 and Miss Turkey 2002.-Biography:...
of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
crowned her successor Rosanna Davison
Rosanna Davison
Rosanna Diane Davison was the winner of the Miss World 2003 title. She is the daughter of musician Chris de Burgh. The song "For Rosanna" was written by her father in her honour for his 1986 album, Into The Light.-Education:Her primary education was at Aravon School, in Co...
of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, the daughter of popular musician Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh is a British/Irish singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1986 love song "The Lady in Red".-Early life:...
, claiming Ireland's first major beauty pageant title. 106 contestants from all over the world competed for the crown, marking at that time, the biggest edition in the pageant history. It is now the third largest edition of the pageant, tied with Miss World 2007.
Placements
| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss World 2003 |
|
| 1st runner-up |
 Canada - Nazanin Afshin-JamNazanin Afshin-Jam Nazanin Afshin-Jam is a Persian Human Rights Activist, , President and Co-Founder of Stop Child Executions, Singer, Songwriter, model, actress, pilot, former Miss World Canada and Miss World 1st runner-up... |
| 2nd runner-up |
 Mainland China - Guan Qi |
| Top 5 |
 India - Ami Vashi Philippines - Maria Rafaela Yunon |
| Top 20 |
 Australia - Olivia Stratton Bolivia - Helen Aponte Dominican Republic - María Eugenia Vargas Ethiopia - Hayat AhmedHayat Ahmed Hayat Ahmed Mohammed is the 2003 Miss World contender from Ethiopia. Her name in Arabic means "life." Hayat Ahmed was Ethiopia's first representative to any Miss World pageant...  Georgia (country) - Irina Onashvili Greece - Vasiliki Tsekoura Jamaica - Jade Fulford Lebanon - Marie-José Hnein New Zealand - Melanie Paul Norway - Elisabeth Wathne Peru - Claudia HernándezClaudia Hernández Claudia María Hernández Oré is a Peruvian model and beauty queen. Her natal town is Lima. She studied Business Administration at Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas ; now she is studying Marketing at Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola...  Poland - Marta Matyjasik Puerto Rico - Joyceline Montero Venezuela - Valentina PatrunoValentina Patruno Valentina Patruno Macero Miss Sanchez is a pageant titleholder, was born in Caracas, Venezuela on September 6, 1982. She was the official representative of Venezuela to the Miss World 2003 pageant held in Sanya, China in December 6, 2003, when he placed in the 7th place .Patruno, previously, won... |
Continental Queens of Beauty
- Queen of Africa: Hayat AhmedHayat AhmedHayat Ahmed Mohammed is the 2003 Miss World contender from Ethiopia. Her name in Arabic means "life." Hayat Ahmed was Ethiopia's first representative to any Miss World pageant...
(Ethiopia) - Queen of Americas: Nazanin Afshin-JamNazanin Afshin-JamNazanin Afshin-Jam is a Persian Human Rights Activist, , President and Co-Founder of Stop Child Executions, Singer, Songwriter, model, actress, pilot, former Miss World Canada and Miss World 1st runner-up...
(Canada) - Queen of Asia & Oceania: Guan Qi (People's Republic of China)
- Queen of Caribbean: Jade Fulford (Jamaica)
- Queen of Europe: Rosanna DavisonRosanna DavisonRosanna Diane Davison was the winner of the Miss World 2003 title. She is the daughter of musician Chris de Burgh. The song "For Rosanna" was written by her father in her honour for his 1986 album, Into The Light.-Education:Her primary education was at Aravon School, in Co...
(Ireland)
Beach Beauty
- Winner: Rosanna Davison (Ireland)
- 1st runner-up: Bianca Sissing (Switzerland)
- 2nd runner-up: Helen Aponte (Bolivia)
- Top 10 semi-finalists: Julie Taton (Belgium), Hayat Ahmed (Ethiopia), Jade Fulford (Jamaica), Melanie Paul (New Zealand), Maria Rafaela Yunon (Philippines), Karolina Gorazda (Poland), Natalia Rodríguez (Uruguay)
Miss Sports
- Winner: Nazanin Afshin Jam (Canada)
- 1st runner-up: Lucie Vachova (Czech Republic)
- 2nd runner-up: Patricia Filomena Chifor (Romania)
Miss Personality
- Winner: Helen Aponte (Bolivia)
- 1st runner-up: Racquel Wilkinson (Barbados)
- 2nd runner-up: Anne-Marie Browne (Antigua)
Miss Talent
- Winner: Irina Onashvili (Georgia)
- 1st runner-up: Joyceline Montero (Puerto Rico)
- 2nd runner-up: Kriistina Gabor (Estonia)
- Top 20 semi-finalists: Anne-Marie Browne (Antigua), Grisel Hitoff (Argentina), Nathalie Biermans (Aruba), Boingotlo Motlalekgosi (Botswana), Nazanin Afshin-Jam (Canada), Quan Qi (People's Republic of China), Claudia Molina (Colombia), Julie Taton (Czech Republic), Maria Eugenia Vargas (Dominican Republic), Hayat Ahmed (Ethiopia), Ami Vashi (India), Rosanna Davison (Ireland), Park Ji-yea (Korea), Irina Askolska (Latvia), Vaida Griksaite (Lithuania), Marija Vašik (Macedonia FYRO), Kimberly Castro (Northern Marianas), Valentina Patruno (Venezuela)
Special awards
- Best World Dress Designer: Claudia Hernández (Peru)
- Miss World Scholarship: Denisa Kola (Albania)
Contestants
Albania - Denisa KolaDenisa KolaDenisa Kola won the title of Miss Albania 2003. She represented Albania at Miss Universe 2003 and Miss World 2003. In Miss World, she won the Miss World Scholarship.. , El País , shkoder.net , Retrieved February 16, 2011-References:...
Andorra - María José Girol
Angola - Celma Katia Carlos- ' - Anne-Marie Browne
Argentina - Grisel Hitoff
Aruba - Nathaly Biermans- Australia - Olivia Stratton
The Bahamas - Shantell Hall
Barbados - Raquel Wilkinson
Belarus - Volha Nevdakh
Belgium - Julie TatonJulie TatonJulie Taton, , in Namur, Belgium was crowned Miss Belgium in 2003. She represented her country at both Miss Universe 2003 and Miss World 2003.. , Purepeople.com -References:...
Belize - Dalila Vanzie- Bolivia - Helen Aponte
- ' - Irna Smaka
Botswana - Boingotlo Motlalekgosi
Brazil - Lara Brito
Kingdom of Bulgaria - Rajna Naldzhieva- Canada - Nazanin Afshin-JamNazanin Afshin-JamNazanin Afshin-Jam is a Persian Human Rights Activist, , President and Co-Founder of Stop Child Executions, Singer, Songwriter, model, actress, pilot, former Miss World Canada and Miss World 1st runner-up...
Cayman Islands - Nichelle Welcome
Chile - Alejandra Soler- ' - Guan Qi
Colombia - Claudia Molina
Costa Rica - Shirley Álvarez
Independent State of Croatia - Aleksandra GrdićAleksandra GrdićAleksandra Grdić is a Croatian model. She was Miss Croatia in 2003. She competed in the Miss World pageant in December 2003 in Sanya, China.She has posed twice for the Croatian edition of Playboy, in 2005 and in 2008....
Curaçao - Angeline da Silva Goes
Cyprus - Stella Stylianou
Czech Republic - Lucie VáchováLucie VáchováLucie Váchová is a beauty queen who won Miss Czech Republic as an 18-year-old and represented her country in Miss World 2003 in China.-References:...
Denmark - Maj Buchholtz Pedersen- Dominican Republic - María Eugenia Vargas
Ecuador - Mayra Renteria
Kingdom of England - Jacqueline Turner
Estonia - Kriistina Gabor- Ethiopia - Hayat AhmedHayat AhmedHayat Ahmed Mohammed is the 2003 Miss World contender from Ethiopia. Her name in Arabic means "life." Hayat Ahmed was Ethiopia's first representative to any Miss World pageant...
Finland - Katri Johanna Hynninen
Early Modern France - Virginie Dubois- Georgia (country) - Irina Onashvili
Germany - Babette Konau
Gibraltar - Kim Marie Falzun- Greece - Vasiliki Tsekoura
Guadeloupe - Lauranza DolimanLauranza DolimanLauranza Doliman is a beauty pageant contestant from Guadeloupe. She was the first contestant of her island to have competed in Miss World. After winning Miss Guadeloupe World 2003, she competed in Miss World 2003 in China, winning the Miss World Elegance award. She also won he title of Miss...
Guatemala - Dulce María Duarte
Guyana - Alexis Glasgow- ' - Sanne de Regt
- ' - Rabee'a Yeung
Hungary - Eszter Toth
Iceland - Regina Jónsdóttir- India - Ami Vashi
Republic of Ireland - Rosanna DavisonRosanna DavisonRosanna Diane Davison was the winner of the Miss World 2003 title. She is the daughter of musician Chris de Burgh. The song "For Rosanna" was written by her father in her honour for his 1986 album, Into The Light.-Education:Her primary education was at Aravon School, in Co...
Israel - Miri Levy
Italy - Silvia Cannas- Jamaica - Jade Fulford
Japan - Kaoru Nishide (西出薫)
Kazakhstan - Saule Zhunosova
Kenya - Janet Kibugu- ' - Park Ji-yea
Latvia - Irina Askolska- Lebanon - Marie-José Hnein
Lesotho - Makuena Lepolesa
Lithuania - Vaida Grikšaitė- ' - Marija Vašik
Malaysia - Wong Sze Zen
Malta - Rachel Xuereb
Mauritius - Marie Aimee Bergicourt
Mexico - Erika HonsteinErika HonsteinErika Lizeth Honstein García represented her country in the 2003 Miss World pageant, held in Sanya, China on December 6, 2003. Honstein only placed fourth in the Nuestra Belleza Mexico 2002 pageant, but was appointed the national title in a recess appointment by Lupita Jones when the Miss World...
Moldova - Elena Danilciuc
Namibia - Petrina Thomas
Nepal - Priti Sitoula- New Zealand - Melanie Paul
Nicaragua - Hailey Britton Brooks
Nigeria - Celia BissongCelia BissongOmotu Bissong - formerly credited as Celia Bissong - is a Nigerian model, television presenter, and actress....
Northern Ireland - Diana Sayers- ' - Kimberly Castro
- Norway - Elisabeth Wathne
Panama - Ivy Ruth Ortega
Paraguay - Karina ButtnerKarina ButtnerKarina Rebeca Buttner Naumann is a beauty queen who won the Miss Paraguay contest in 2005, so qualifying for that year's Miss Universe contest in Thailand.-References:...- Peru - Claudia HernándezClaudia HernándezClaudia María Hernández Oré is a Peruvian model and beauty queen. Her natal town is Lima. She studied Business Administration at Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas ; now she is studying Marketing at Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola...
- Philippines - Maria Rafaela Yunon
- Poland - Karolina Gorazda
Portugal - Vanessa Job- Puerto Rico - Joyceline Montero
Kingdom of Romania - Patricia Filomena Chifor
Russia - Svetlana Goreva
Kingdom of Scotland - Nicci JollyNicci JollyNicola “Nicci” Jolly is a Scottish television presenter and former beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Scotland 2003.-Biography:In 2003, Jolly was crowned Miss Scotland; she went on to be a presenter for various television shows on, for example, Sky, the BBC, and STV...- ' - Bojana Vujađinović
Singapore - Corine Kanmani
Slovakia - Adriana Pospíšilová
Slovenia - Tina ZajcTina ZajcTina Zajc won the Slovenia national beauty contest, Miss Slovenia 2003, in 2003 and attended the Miss World 2003 competition. At the time, she was a 19 year old geology student, studying earthquakes and volcanos. She also had a modelling and acting career, and had recorded a song...
South Africa - Cindy Nell
Spain - María Teresa Martín
Sri Lanka - Sachini StanleySachini Ayendra StanleySachini Ayendra Stanley born on 8 April, is an Sri Lanka film actress who works in Sinhala movies.Sachini won Miss Sri Lanka title in 2003. After being crowned as the winner of the Miss Sri Lanka, her first film, Adaraneeya Wassanaya was released in 2004...
Swaziland - Thembelihle Zwane
Sweden - Ida Söfringsgärd
Switzerland - Bianca Sissing
Tanzania - Sylvia Bahame
Thailand - Janejira Keardprasop- ' - Magdalene Walcott
Turkey - Tuğba Karaca
Uganda - Aysha Nassanga
Ukraine - Ilona Yakovleva
United States - Kimberly Harlan
Uruguay - Natalia Rodríguez- Venezuela - Valentina PatrunoValentina PatrunoValentina Patruno Macero Miss Sanchez is a pageant titleholder, was born in Caracas, Venezuela on September 6, 1982. She was the official representative of Venezuela to the Miss World 2003 pageant held in Sanya, China in December 6, 2003, when he placed in the 7th place .Patruno, previously, won...
Vietnam - Nguyễn Đình Thụy Quân
Wales - Imogen ThomasImogen ThomasImogen Mary Thomas is a Welsh glamour model, beauty queen and television personality. She rose to fame in 2003, after winning Miss Wales, and achieved further note in 2006, when she lasted three months on the seventh series of reality TV series Big Brother.-Early life:Imogen was born to Charles...
Zambia - Cynthia Kanema
Zimbabwe - Phoebe Monjane
Debuts
- Andorra, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guadeloupe and Northern Marianas competed in Miss WorldMiss WorldThe Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
for the first time.
Returning countries and territories
- Lesotho last competed in 1981Miss World 1981Miss World 1981, the 31st Miss World pageant. was held on November 12, 1981 in the Royal Albert Hall, London, UK. The winner was Pilín León from Venezuela, the first titleholder from her country since 1955...
- Mauritius last competed in 1998Miss World 1998The 48th Miss World pageant was held at the Lake Berjaya Mahé Resort in Mahé Island, Seychelles. 86 delegates from around the world competed for the crown. Ronan Keating then lead singer of Boyzone and MTV's Eden Harel hosted the event...
- Zambia last competed in 1999Miss World 1999The 49th Miss World pageant was held on 4 December 1999 at London's Olympia Hall. The pageant was hosted by Ulrika Jonsson and model Melanie Sykes. The 1999 pageant attracted 94 delegates from all over the world. The 1999 pageant also marked the first time that Scotland and Wales fielded their...
- Belarus, Denmark, Guatemala, Moldova, Nepal, Paraguay and Sri Lanka last competed in 2000Miss World 2000Miss World 2000, the 50th Miss World pageant, was held on 30 November 2000 at the Millennium Dome in London, United Kingdom. The pageant's swimsuit segment was filmed in the Maldives....
- Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Iceland, Korea, Portugal and Switzerland last competed in 2001Miss World 2001Miss World 2001, the 51st Miss World pageant was held at the Super Bowl, in Sun City Entertainment Centre, Sun City, South Africa on November 16, 2001. Agbani Darego from Nigeria won the pageant, she became the first black African to win the Miss World crown...
Nations which competed last year but not this year
- '
- - Did not compete in Miss World 2003 because of a shift in the Miss Ghana calendar. Organizers held the national final, Miss Ghana 2003, on the same date Miss World 2003 was held. This is the reason Ghanaian delegates to Miss World have their titles dating back by a year.
Withdraws
- - Luysya Tovmasian
- - Tanja Duhovich
- - Aishwarya Sukhdeo withdrew at the very last minute for unknown reasons; however, she competed in Miss World a year later
Crossovers
- USA previously competed at Miss Teen USA 2002Miss Teen USA 2002Miss Teen USA 2002, the 20th Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from South Padre Island, Texas on 28 August 2002. At the conclusion of the final competition, Miss Wisconsin Teen USA Vanessa Marie Semrow was crowned by outgoing queen Marissa Whitley of Missouri.This was the second...
representing the U.S. state of GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. She placed as the 4th runner-up - Northern Marianas was originally crowned for the Miss UniverseMiss UniverseMiss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
pageant but was sent to Miss World instead - 14 of the contestants also competed in Miss Universe:
- Miss Universe 2003Miss Universe 2003Miss Universe 2003, the 52nd Miss Universe pageant, was held at Figali Convention Center, Panama City, Panama on June 3, 2003. 71 delegates from around the universe competed for the crown...
: Albania, Belgium, Cayman Islands, Mauritius, Nigeria and South Africa (who placed as the 2nd runner-up) - Miss Universe 2004Miss Universe 2004Miss Universe 2004, the 53rd Miss Universe pageant, was held in Centro de Convenciones CEMEXPO, Quito, Ecuador on June 1, 2004. It was won by Jennifer Hawkins of Australia....
: Antigua, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Lebanon and Switzerland (who placed among the top 15 semi-finalists) - Miss Universe 2005Miss Universe 2005Miss Universe 2005, the 54th Miss Universe pageant, was held at the Impact Arena, Bangkok, Thailand on May 31, 2005.At the conclusion of the final telecast, Miss Universe Canada, Natalie Glebova was crowned Miss Universe 2005 by outgoing titleholder Jennifer Hawkins of Australia...
: Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago (who placed among the top 15 semi-finalists) and Zambia
- Miss Universe 2003
Historical signicance
- 13 out of 20 countries which made it into the semi-finals, were not in the semi-finals last year: Switzerland (1985), Canada (1989), Ireland (1990), Bolivia and Trinidad & Tobago (1995), Dominican Republic and Greece (1996), Lebanon and New Zealand (1997), and Jamaica (1998). Ethiopia and Georgia, which debuted on that same year, made into the semi-finals for the first time
- Miss World 2003 Rosanna Davison was signed by Rage Models London
- Philippines makes its first of two back-to-back appearances at the top 20 (1993 & 1994), (2002 & 2003) and they are back at the top five after almost 10 years. Representative is the niece of Miss Universe 1984Miss Universe 1984Miss Universe 1984, the 33rd Miss Universe pageant, was held at James L. Knight Convention Center in Miami, Florida, USA on July 9, 1984. 81 contestants competed for the crown....
3rd runner-up, Maria Desiree Verdadero - India and Venezuela grew up in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, while Hong Kong grew up in VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... - Canada, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, was born in IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
- Uruguay, Natalia Rodríguez, appeared in one of the pitstops of The Amazing Race 5The Amazing Race 5The Amazing Race 5 is the fifth installment of the American reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 5 featured 11 teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world....
, while Sri Lanka, Sachini Ayendra Stanley, appeared briefly on The Amazing Race 6The Amazing Race 6The Amazing Race 6 is the sixth installment of the reality television series The Amazing Race. It premiered on November 16, 2004, and concluded on February 8, 2005.Freddy Holliday & Kendra Bentley were the winners of this Race.... - Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Japan, Kazakhstan, Panama, Paraguay, Spain, Turkey and Uruguay introduced themselves in native languages in the Miss World U-Decide Show