Most Iconic Miss World Titleholders

02 / 15

Pilin Leon The Efficient Writer

Pilín León who was crowned as Miss World 1981, is now a renowned Venezuelan writer for newspapers. Grappling with the grave and bold global issues, Pilin now voices out her opinions in the widely read Venezuelan newspapers. She became the second Venezuelan to win the Miss World title since 1955 after Susana Duijm. As Miss World 1981, she was the first celebrity to switch on the Christmas lights in Oxford Street in 1981. Now at the age of 52, the diva who also bagged the title of Miss World Americas at Miss World 1981, is mother of three young children and lives with her husband in Barranquilla.

03 / 15

Giselle Laronde The Cerebral Beauty

Walking away with the crown of Miss World in 1986, Giselle Laronde West became the first woman from Trinidad and Tobago to be victorious in the said pageant, at the tender age of 23. Subsequent to her victory, Giselle was told by one of the judges that she looked at ease on the stage and flowed when she walked. Giselle Laronde West was awarded with the Chaconia Medal for her eminence and also had a BWIA plane named after her. She now resides in her homeland of Trinidad & Tobago where she is working as the Corporate Communications Manager with Angostura Ltd.

04 / 15

Lisa Hanna The Unwavering Achiever

Lisa Rene Hanna who was crowned as Miss World 1993 is now an ace Jamaican politician. Lisa was the third Jamaican to win the title. A member of the governing People's National Party, Lisa Hanna currently serves as Member of Parliament for Saint Ann South East and as Jamaica's Minister of Youth and Culture. Formerly, she has worked as a volunteer with the World Hunger Project and the JAMAL programme in Jamaica alerting people to the global status of hunger, starvation and the local plight of adult illiteracy. She also worked in conjunction with UNICEF to spearhead the Jamaican candlelight vigils to launch the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. She continued her community service throughout her youth. She also served as a television co-host for one of Jamaica’s most popular television programmes, “Rappin”, and became one of the youngest United Nations Goodwill Ambassadors ever to be appointed by the United Nations Development Programme in Jamaica.

05 / 15

Aishwarya Rai The Timeless Beauty

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who is one of the most loved Miss World winners of all time was crowned in 1994. After completing her reign Aishwarya Rai marked her venture in to Bollywood and Hollywood, whereby she established herself as one the most popular and high-profile celebrities. Aishwarya Rai has received several awards, including two Filmfare Awards from ten nominations. She was also awarded with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009 and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France in 2012. She has often been cited as the "Most Beautiful Woman in the World”. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS and has assisted many underprivileged children in the cleft palate surgery. Lately, she was acknowledged as the “Most Successful Miss World” by Miss World Organization in 2014.

06 / 15

Linor Abargil An Inspirational Queen

Linor Abargil is an Israeli lawyer, actress, model and beauty queen who won the Miss World beauty pageant in 1998, shortly after being raped. Linor’s story not only touched million hearts across the globe, but also lit the ray of hopes and determination for million women. Since then, she has become a global advocate in the fight against sexual violence. In 2013, a documentary film about her rape and subsequent activism called “Brave Miss World” was released. She is certainly one of the most influential Miss World winners of all time.

07 / 15

Priyanka Chopra The Epitome of Talent

Priyanka Chopra who is now the trending name of Bollywood and Hollywood industry was crowned as Miss World in 2000. She is also popularly known as a singer. She is cited by various media outlets as the world's sexiest Asian woman. She has received numerous awards and nominations for her acting proficiency, including a National Film Award for Best Actress and Filmfare Awards in five categories. In 2015, she began starring as Alex Parrish on the ABC drama Quantico, becoming the first South Asian woman to headline an American network series. In addition to her acting career, Chopra participates in stage shows, has written columns for newspapers, and is a prominent celebrity endorser for brands and products. She released her first single "In My City" in 2012. Her second single "Exotic" debuted in 2013, and charted in various countries. She is also noted for her philanthropic activities, and was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights in 2010.

08 / 15

Tatana Kucharova The Scintillating Aura

Taťána Kuchařová, who was crowned as Miss World 2006, is also celebrated as a Czech dancer and model. Tatana made history to become the first woman from the Czech Republic ever to win the title of Miss World. Subsequent to her reign as Miss World, Tatana appeared at many dancing reality shows, and finished in second position in the Czech version of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2013. On March 2013, Tatana was selected as WNYLE Global Women Leader and member of WNYLE Council of Prominent Women Leaders, thereby affirming herself as inspiration to womanhood.

09 / 15

Zhang Zilin The Modest Beauty

Zhang Zilin who was crowned as Miss World 2007, is also renowned as a Chinese actress, athlete, singer and fashion model. Both a scholar and an athlete, Zhang Zilin excels in the Triple Jump and Hurdles and has undergone professional training in the 100 meter Hurdles. In 2006, she was shortlisted as one of the top ten professional supermodels during the Chinese Fashion and Culture Awards. Subsequently, she participated in Giorgio Armani's 2007 Autumn/Winter Collection show in Paris and later earned herself the title of "Top Model of the Year" from New Silk Road modeling agency. Zhang made her film debut in 2011 with “The Underdog Knight 2”. Zhang also lent her voice for the 2008 Summer Olympics soundtrack and has appeared in the music video for the same song entitled “Beijing Welcomes You”.

10 / 15

Kaiane Aldorino The Exquisite Charmer

Kaiane Aldorino, who is an international level Gibraltarian dancer, was crowned as the first Miss World from Gibraltar in 2009. She was the first Miss Gibraltar ever to reach the semifinals of the Miss World beauty pageant. Since 2014, she is the Deputy Mayor of Gibraltar. On 7 July 2011, Aldorino was the invested with both the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour by a unanimous vote in the Gibraltar Parliament. Aldorino became the first woman to receive the Freedom of the City in Gibraltar. Thereafter, Kaiane participated at the 2008 International Dance Organisation World Showdance Championships, in Germany, where she represented Gibraltar in the Formation category as part of the Gibraltar National Dance Team. She obtained 17th position, and made history by making Gibraltar pass the first round for the first time.

11 / 15

Ivian Sarcos The Elegant Ensnarer

Ivian Sarcos was crowned as Miss World in 2011. Being an orphan at the age of eight, Sarcos was raised by the nuns in a convent in Cojedes. She had intended to become a nun, but she found a new passion in the world of fashion and started her career as a model. Later, she joined Miss World pageant wherein she not just won the crown but also several hearts for her elegance, humbleness and inside out beauty. Subsequent to winning Miss World crown, Ivian won the “L'bel Most Beautiful Face” award. She is now rumored to be the next National Director of Miss Mundo Venezuela, a national pageant which sends its delegates to Miss World.

12 / 15

Megan Young The First Filipina Winner

Megan Young represented the Philippines was crowned Miss World 2013 on 28th September 2012 at Bali Nusa Dua International Convention Center, South Kuta, Bali, Indonesia and became the first Filipina representative to win Miss World title. During the final question and answer round of Miss World 2013, she was asked, "Why should you be the next Miss World?" to which she replied, “I treasure a core value of humanity and that guides people why they act the way they do. I will use this to show other people how they can understand each other as one, we can help society.”

13 / 15

Rolene Strauss The Transformational Self Confidence Coach

Rolene Strauss represented South Africa and was crowned Miss World 2014 on 14th December 2014 at the ExCeL London in London, United Kingdom. She is the second South African representative to win the title. The diva always had the desire to help women across the world to re-discover themselves with building the self-confidence they endure. Rolene as an influential beauty queen took upon herself to empower women with holding workshops and seminars for women where she shares common difficulties, life goals, and tips on how to build up self-confidence and purpose in life amid constantly being measured by society’s version of the ‘Perfect Woman’.

14 / 15

Vanessa Ponce de Leon The Unrivalled Beauty Queen

Vanessa Ponce de Leon represented Mexico and was crowned Miss World 2018 on 8th December 2018 at the Sanya City Arena in Sanya, China. She is the first Mexican woman to win the title and the eldest one too. Vanessa’s beauty is unmatched and one of the reasons is because unlike how society believes a beauty queen should be; the diva strongly believes that healthy is beautiful. She had shared that nobody can compare anyone in terms of beauty because everyone is from different backgrounds and walks of life; if we can’t embrace their beauty, we have no right to put them down either. According to the queen, a good diet and sleep are the key to good hair and skin. Vanessa is one of the most successful beauty queens from Mexico who showcased that one needs to be beautiful along with being well equipped to bring in the positive change in the society to win the title.

15 / 15

Toni Ann Singh The Musical Queen

Toni-Ann Singh represented Jamaica and was crowned Miss World 2019 on 14th December 2019 at the ExCeL London in London, United Kingdom. She is the fourth woman from Jamaica to win the title. Toni-Ann Singh’s win was historic as it made 2019 the first ever year where all the two major international beauty pageant titles was won by black women. Toni was classically trained for music while she was growing up and mentioned that she has been singing in church with children’s choir since she was a little girl. Her cover of “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston went viral before the final round of the competition and she likes to sing classical opera in her spare time. Singh said that she has considered recording music professionally, but that her medical career takes precedent.