Miss Venezuela wins Miss World crown

Miss Venezuela, Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colimenares, was crowned the 2011 winner of the Miss World beauty pageant

Miss Venezuela, Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colimenares, was crowned the 2011 winner of the Miss World beauty pageant at a glittering final ceremony in London today.

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AFP Photo/Ben Stansallu00a0

At an extravagant ceremony at the Earls Court in London, 21-year-old Sarcos defeated over 100 beauties from various parts of the world at the 61st Miss World contest. The winner was crowned by Miss World 2010, Alexandria Mills of the United States.

Miss Philippines, Gwendoline Gaelle Sandrine Ruais, was named the runner-up, while Miss Puerto Rico, Amanda Victoria Vilanova Perez, came third.

Sarcos Colimenares, 22, who works for a broadcasting company and has a degree in human resources, gasped and threw her hands to her face as she was announced the winner.

Some 113 beauty queens from Albania to Zimbabwe took their place on the stage, with the show being broadcast live to an estimated audience of more than one billion viewers in 150 countries.

India's hopes of winning the title for the sixth time came crashing down as Miss India World Kanishtha Dhankhar failed to make it to the top 25.

Model-turned-actress Priyanka Chopra was the last Indian model to win the title in 2000.