Portfolio of a Fashion Aficionado: PAGEANT HERALD: MISS WORLD 2011: VENEZUELA!

Twenty-two year old Ivian Sarcos Colmenares from Venezuela was crowned the sixty-first Miss World in a ceremony filled with glitz, glamor and nostalgia held in London, England.

Ivian Sarcos from Venezuela receives the sash from the outgoing Miss World, Alexandria Mills from the USA.

Completing her court were Misses Philippines Gwendolyn Ruais and Puerto Rico Amanda Villanova, placing as the First and Second Princesses, respectively.

Sarcos, from the state of Amazonas in Venezuela, bested 120 other women from all around the world. She was the sixth Venezuelan to bring home the crown. The last before her was Jacqueline Aguilera in 1995.

Asked by AFP on how she felt when she was called as the new queen of the world, Ivian remarked, "I felt the most gorgeous woman in the world. I was so happy and I wanted to shout, to cry, to stand still and to smile. So many emotions."

Sarcos was raised by nuns before worked for a broadcasting company and winning the national title in Venezuela. She represented the state of Amazonas.

Inside the Earl's Court Convention Center were fans from all nations waving their flags and screaming the countries' names throughout the night. Puerto Ricans, Filipinos, Venezuelans and the home crowd were all noisy to show their support to their representatives. However, outside the venue were 200 feminist protesters who were against the beauty pageant's return to London after some time.

Delegates from South Africa, England, Scotland and Korea formed the top 7 finalists, while the ladies from Indonesia, Italy, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, US Virgin Islands, Kazakhstan, Sweden and Spain completed the fifteen semifinalists who were chosen based on their scores shown in a large scoreboard throughout the event. Venezuela was voted as the Continental Queen of the Americas, Philippines for Asia, South Africa for Africa, England for Europe and Puerto Rico for the Caribbean islands.

The winner and her princesses will tour around the world helping charitable institutions worldwide, therefore applying the slogan, "Beauty with a Purpose."

The next year's pageant will be held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.

Sources: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8873423/Miss-Venezuela-crowned-Miss-World-2011-but-200-protest-outside.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_World_2011

PHOTOS:

L-R: Miss Philippines Gwendolyn Ruais, 1st Princess and Queen of Asia. Miss World 2011 Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares from Venezuela and Queen of the Americas, and Miss Puerto Rico Amanda Victoria Villanova Perez, 2nd Princess and Queen of the Caribbean.