Saturday, 28 September 2013
Miss Philippines has been crowned Miss World in a glittering finale despite threats by Islamist groups to disrupt the competition.
Despite threats from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) to disrupt the contest, police said no rallies were staged.
'The success in securing the Miss World final will be a benchmark for the police in securing the incoming APEC Summit', he said, referring to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Cooperation summit on Bali, which will be attended by world leaders, including President Barack Obama, and thousands of delegates.
Megan Young age 23, who wore a glamorous pink fishtail dress, won the 63rd annual beauty pageant on Indonesia's resort island of Bali.
The final round was held amid tight security after ongoing protests by Muslim extremists - who had previously branded the iconic competition 'pornography' and a 'whore contest'.
Earlier, four candidates had dropped mainly due to illnesses, according to organisers.
As Ms Young's name was called out, a large number of Filipino fans celebrated by screaming, jumping and waving the country's flag.
The beautiful Megan, who took the crown from last year's winner Wenxia Yu of China, was born in the United States.
She moved to the Philippines aged 10 - and has since appeared in films and as a television host.
Twenty year old Miss France Marine Lorphelin, was crowned runner-up in the competition, while Miss Ghana Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, 22, came in third.
Miss England Kirsty Heslewood was ranked in the top 10 contestants in the competition.
Despite threats from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) to disrupt the contest, police said no rallies were staged.
The Islamic group had demonstrated many times, calling for the government to cancel the pageant, which it claims shows too much skin and goes against Islamic teachings.
Miss World organisers had earlier agreed to cut bikinis from the swimsuit competition - replacing them with more conservative sarongs.
But pressure continued to mount - with more mainstream groups joining in and calling for the show to be banned.
Indonesia's government announced three weeks ago that the final would be moved from the outskirts of the capital Jakarta to Hindu-dominated Bali, where extremist influence is minimal.
'The success in securing the Miss World final will be a benchmark for the police in securing the incoming APEC Summit', he said, referring to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Cooperation summit on Bali, which will be attended by world leaders, including President Barack Obama, and thousands of delegates.
