SANYA, China - Miss Ireland, 19-year-old Rosanna Davison, won the Miss World (news - web sites) competition held Saturday in this southern Chinese beach resort. It was China's first time hosting an international beauty pageant. A $12 million tiara-shaped convention hall was built especially for the event, which organizers said would be watched by 2 billion people around the world. Second place went to Miss Canada, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, while the host country's Miss China, Guan Qi, took third.

Given 30 seconds to describe herself, Davison said she was a "warm, fun-loving person" who values honesty and integrity. She has taken a break from college to represent Ireland.

Her father, the singer Chris De Burgh, best known for the hit "Lady in Red" said afterward: "I'm absolutely thrilled, I'm seriously proud of her."

MISS WORLD OF 2004 - Ireland
1st Runner-up - Canada
2nd Runner-up - China

FINALISTS
Miss Philippines
Miss India

Top 20 semifinalists
MISS BOLIVIA (Miss Personality)
MISS GEORGIA (Miss Talent)
MISS AUSTRALIA (People's Choice)
MISS VENEZUELA
MISS NORWAY
MISS ETHIOPIA
MISS PUERTO RICO
MISS JAMAICA
MISS DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
MISS NEW ZEALAND
MISS PERU
MISS LEBANON
MISS SWITZERLAND
MISS GREECE
MISS TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Special Awards Best Evening Gown: PERU
Miss World Scholarship: ALBANIA

SANYA, CHINA: Miss World 2003 contestant Miss Philippines Maria Rafaela Verdadero Yunon reacts after being named to the final 20 of the Miss World 2003 beauty pageant at the Beauty Crown Theater, 06 December 2003 in Sanya, in southern China's Hainan Province. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN