NAME: Rosanna Davison

AGE: 19

NATIONALITY: Irish

CLAIM TO FAME: Miss World 2003

WITH long blonde hair and soft brown eyes, Rosanna Davison is the first lass from Ireland to win the Miss World title, earning $100,000 in prize money and all the other perks that are a part and parcel of being chosen as the most beautiful woman on earth.

Rosanna beat 105 other women from around the globe at the competition held at the southern Chinese tropical resort of Sanya. Daughter of pop star Chris de Burgh, best known for his 1986 hit Lady in Red, Davison takes over the crown from the reigning Miss World from Turkey, Azra Akin.

The first runner-up was Miss Canada, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, 24, who was born in Iran and now lives in Vancouver. Chinese contestant Qi Guan, a fashion designer, was second runner-up in the country’s third attempt at grabbing the crown.

In the run-up to Miss World finals, the contestants took part in four competitions, with the winners fast-tracked to the final 20. A day before the finals, bookies slashed the odds against Davison to 4-1 after she won one of the Miss World Beach Beauty. Having finished her first year at University College in Dublin, Davison’s ambition is to finish her studies and pursue a career in the arts, fashion, sports science and nutrition. But first she will take up her duties as Miss World for one year, largely composed of various charity fundraising activities for disadvantaged children around the world. The heavy travelling demands are likely to suit Davison who says she “loves” exploring new cultures, basketball, water sports and yoga.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do next, but I will put all my energy into being Miss World,” said Davison, who wore a long pink evening gown for the show.

Ireland’s Julia Morley, executive chairman of Miss World and one of the 11 judges, said it was Davison’s answer to her question in the final stage of the competition that won it for her. Asked to describe her life and character in 30 seconds, Davison said she was a ‘warm, fun-loving person who values loyalty, integrity and honesty.” However, the title hasn’t gone without controversy.

There have been reports in several newspapers that suggested that De Burgh’s personal ties with some of the judges tipped the scales in his daughter’s favour. Andrea Roche, Miss Ireland in 1998 and one of the organisers of this year’s Miss Ireland competition, said Rosanna can’t help who her father is. As for the proud father, De Burgh said Rosanna has worked hard and “We feel blessed as a family”.

Beauty pageants were once banned in communist China and it did not enter the Miss World Competition until 2001. Such competitions were looked upon as an ‘unseemly display of flesh and bourgeois Western decadence’. But now with beauty spelling big business, this year’s pageant is the first beauty pageant to be held in Communist China and will be held again in China next year, although the city hasn’t been decided.