WARSAW, Sept 30: Czech beauty Tatana Kucharova on Saturday won the Miss World title, in a glitzy finale of the beauty pageant broadcast to more than 200 countries from the Polish capital.

Kucharova, 18, finished ahead of five other finalists, Romania’s Ioana Valentina, Australian Sabrina Houssami, Stiviandra Oliveira of Angola, Brazil’s Jane Sousa Borges Oliveira and Jamaica’s Sara Lawrens.

The 104 contenders for the crown posed in bathing suits and evening dress during the gala celebration at Warsaw’s stately Palace of Culture that was gifted to Poland by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

The new titleholder succeeds Miss Iceland’s Unnur Birna Vilhajalmsdottir, named Miss World 2005 in China.

Now in its 56th year, Miss World claims to be the globe’s largest beauty contest.—AFP