Miss World 2008 Crowns Siberian Winner

Ksenia Sukhinova 4

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Ksenia Sukhinova, a 21-year-old student from Siberia, has been crowned Miss World 2008.

This year’s show, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, set a new record in viewership — it was watched by “more than a billion viewers across the world“.

As obsessed as America has ever been with its own Miss USA and Miss Universe competitions, I’m amazed that “beauty pageants” have such a huge following worldwide.

The notion of ‘competitive beauty‘ seems like a cultural relic from decades gone by but, were it not for the continuing popularity of pageants, we would be deprived, collectively, of moments of pure pop culture gold such as the unforgettable intellect of Miss South Carolina.

What do you think about the Miss World competition and other beauty pageants like it?

Should they be supported or abolished?

Ksenia Sukhinova from Siberia has been crowned the new Miss World in a glamorous show in Johannesburg, South Africa. The 21-year-old student from the Tyumen region beat 109 rivals.

First runner-up was Trinidad and Tobago’s Gabrielle Walcott followed by India’s Parvathy Omanakuttan as second runner-up. The other two finalists were from South Africa and Angola.

More than one billion viewers across the world – a record number – watched the contest’s finals on TV.