The Miss World 2014 pageant will feature over 20 beauties from the Asia-Pacific region.
The 64th edition of Miss World is all geared up with 126 contestants around the globe preparing themselves to realize their dreams of wearing the much-coveted glimmering blue crown in London on December 14, 2014. This year, the much awaited pageant will be held at ExCel London, England, where Megan Young of Philippines, the chosen Miss World in 2013, will crown her successor at the end of the event.
We introduce to you 14 Asian-Pacific beauties that will take the Miss World ramp by storm this year.
1. Miss World Hong Kong 2014: Grace Chan
Although, Grace Chan was born in Hong Kong , she immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia when she was 5-years-old. The 1991 born has a Communications major and a Publishing minor from Simon Fraser University.
Grace won Miss Hong Kong 2013 in September last year, while also claiming the Miss Photogenic title, Tourism Ambassador Award, Media’s Favorite Award, and the Best Debate Team. She also won the Miss Chinese International Pageant 2014, held in January, where she surprised and charmed the audience with her flute-playing and singing talent.
2. Miss World Vietnam 2014: Loan Nguyen Thi
Nguyen Thi Loan was crowned Miss Vietnam 2014 this month and will be representing the country at the Miss World 2014 pageant. The 1990 born used to be a volleyball player and studied at the Hanoi University of Trade.
Loan has earlier won the Miss Sea title and had made it to the top five of the Miss Vietnam 2010 pageant. She was also the second runner-up in the Miss Ethnic Vietnam beauty contest in 2013.
3. Miss World Sri Lanka 2014: Chulakshi Ranathunga
From the previously named Ceylon, Chulakshi Ranathunga will be representing Sri Lanka at the Miss World 2014 in London. The gorgeous 25-year-old professional model was crowned Miss Sri Lanka 2014 in August this year. Chulakshi was the first runner-up in the previous year’s event, but won the pageant straight up this time.
4. Miss World India 2014: Koyal Rana
The 21-year-old Indian beauty Koyal Rana will represent India in Miss World 2014 in December. She was crowned Miss India World 2014 in April. In 2009, Koyal had represented India at Miss Teen International in Chicago and won the Miss Universal Teen 2009 title. She is currently doing her undergraduate programme in Bachelor of Business Studies from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi.
Originally from Jaipur, Koyal has her eyes on not only the Miss World crown, but also on Bollywood, and looks up to former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen (1994) for inspiration.
5. Miss World Thailand 2014: Maeya Nonthawan Thongleng
Nonthawan “Maeya” Thongleng, a 22-year-old model from Surat Thani, Thailand was crowned Miss Thailand World 2014. The model and award-winning country singer will represent Thailand in the 64th Miss World pageant in London. In a country where fair skin is considered a standard of beauty, Maeya has broken stereotypes with her gorgeous tan skin.
Maeya is a third year scholar at Stamford International University and is studying Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Administration in Airline Business Management.
6. Miss World Malaysia 2014: Dewi Liana Seriestha
On August 30, 2014, Dewi Liana Seriestha was crowned Miss Malaysia World 2014, becoming the first Bidayuh woman to win the title and represent the country at a Miss World pageant. Coming from a small indigenous community in Kampung Tematu in Malaysia, Dewi defeated 20 contestants to get the title, while also grabbing Miss Talent, Miss Personality and Miss Dr Alice awards at the pageant.
Dewi is a known singer, composer and song writer, as well as an aspiring model and actress. Her most recent achievement in music was at the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood, California, USA in July 2014 where she bagged several medals, including a gold medal for classical opera.
7. Miss World Singapore 2014: Dalreena Poonam Gill
Dalreena Poonam Gill (20) was crowned Miss World Singapore 2014 in September and will be reperesenting her country at Miss World 2014. The 20-year-old soccer referee beat 19 local contestants to win the title. She is also the youngest of only three female football referees in Singapore and aspires to become a referee for FIFA in the next two years.
8. Miss World Japan 2014: Hikaru Kawai
Hikaru Kawai, the 19-year-old beauty queen from Sendai City recently won the title of Miss World Japan 2014 in July this year in Tokyo. She will be representing the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ at the 64th Miss World contest held at London in December.
Hikaru was crowned by previous year’s title holder Michiko Tanaka and was followed by runner ups Asayu Kubota, Eri Yasuda and Hitomi Yoshioka.
9. Miss World Indonesia 2014: Maria Asteria Sastrayu Rahajeng
Born in 1991 in Blora, Central Java, Maria has studied Communication Science at Pelita Harapan University, Jakarta. She was crowned Miss World Indonesia 2014 in February this year, where she represented her hometown West Sulawesi, beating 34 contestants to win the crown. The 22-year-old has previously won the Miss Pelita Harapan University title in 2009 and also participated at APEC Voice of the Future in Bali.
10. Miss World New Zealand 2014: Arielle Garciano
Winning the Miss World New Zealand 2014 crown in Auckland in April this year, Arielle Garciano has secured her opportunity to compete in Miss World 2014 in London this December. The 22-year-old, youngest of four siblings in her family, is a Branch Sales Coordinator in a retail store in New Zealand who loves art, fashion and traveling. While her mother is English, her father is from the Camotus Island, Cebu, the Philippines.
11. Miss World Australia 2014: Courtney Thorpe
Brisbane beauty Courtney Thorpe won the title of Miss World Australia 2014 in July this year, beating 42 contestants from the country. Courtney is known to be a stylist, journalist, as well as a children’s book author. The 24-year-old is the head of styling and a trainer at the Australian Institute of Creative Design, and fashion editor at GC Magazine on the Gold Coast. She is currently dating Australian heartthrob Lincoln Lewis of the Home and Away fame.
12. Miss World China PR 2014: Du Yang
Du Yang overcame her competition of 30 contestants to win the Miss China PR World pageant held in September this year in Shenzen, China. She succeeded Miss China 2013 Wei Wei Yu for the title. The 22-year-old from Beijing will now compete internationally with over 126 contestants at the Miss World 2014 pageant in London.
13. Miss World Fiji 2014: Charlene Tafuna’i
The 20-year-old beauty from Nadi, Fiji, won the Miss Fiji World 2014 in a glamorous ceremony at Suva on July 26, 2014. She also bagged the People’s Choice award and the Beach Beauty award at the pageant. The newly crowned beauty queen, Charlene, will represent the island of Fiji at the 64th Miss World pageant on December 14, 2014 in London. She is the eldest of four girls in her family and has maternal links to Samoa.
14. Miss World Nepal 2014: Subin Limbu
Nepalese beauty Subin Limbu was crowned as Miss Nepal 2014 in a glittering finale in Kathmandu in May 2014. Defeating 18 contestants, Subin was crowned by Miss Nepal 2013 Ishani Shreshtha. The 23-year-old from Dharan, Nepal is actively involved with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in helping promote conservation, especially among the youth.
