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Miss World, Gibraltar’s Kaiane Aldorino, center, claps hands after she was crowned during the Miss World pageant in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

Johannesburg Gibraltar’s Kaiane Aldorino won the 2009 Miss World crown at a glittering ceremony here on Saturday, defeating 111 contestants from across the world but Miss India Pooja Chopra disappointed by failing to make it to the final round.

An HR Clerk by profession, the 22-year old blonde brought her country the Miss World title for the first time.

“Thank you South Africa, this is the most wonderful moment of my life,” said Aldorino with tears in her eyes.

Miss Mexico Perla Beltran finished second, while South Africa’s Tatum Keshwar took the third place.

Former Miss World and Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra was one of the judges in the contest whose final round saw a close contest between seven beauty queens.

Aldorino was crowned by Kseniasukhi Nova, the Miss World 2008, of Russia.

Miss India Pooja Chopra, who participated in the contest, nursing an injured ankle, made it to the semi-final along with 15 other contestants but was eliminated in the penultimate round.

Chopra earlier won the ‘beauty with a purpose’ title for supporting the save the girl-child initiative back home.

Source: expressindia.com