MAIN Art & ... Pop Culture Miss World Pageant 2009

The 59th annual Miss World pageant is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 12 airing live from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Beamed to hundreds of countries around the world, a global television audience of millions watch as Miss World semi-finalists strut, dance and compete across the stage for the coveted title of most beautiful woman in the world.

The main event is preceded by a month-long round of galas, events & activities near and around the host city, leading up to the televised broadcast which begins with 20 top semi-finalists already chosen.

The winner of this year's pageant will spend the following year representing the Miss World organization and raising funds in the millions of dollars for charitable causes across the globe.

In 1951, the Miss World competition was begun by Eric Morley and at its peak in the 1970s and 80s drew an audience of almost 28 million in Great Britain and many more throughout the world.

Today, it continues as one of the world's top beauty pageants featuring a collection of motivated, gifted and extremely beautiful young women vying for the title.

More about Miss World around the Web:

Follow the international competition on the Web including news & updates as well as contestant photo galleries, profiles & biographies, fun facts, trivia and more on the Miss World Pageant ...

Miss World Official Site - The place to be for everything you always wanted to know, featuring the latest photos, news and announcements plus a complete list of contestants, related trivia, history, video clips, archived winners' photo gallery and media contact and registration info.

Miss World 2009 - The full overview from Wikipedia including Miss World history, controversies, fun facts & trivia, a complete list of winners from 1951-present, related links.

Miss World -- A long, glittering history - Historical Miss World coverage with a look back at pageants and winners from the past.

Turn For the Judges - Miss World - Dozens of glamour contestant photos in an interactive gallery with updated coverage of the Miss World Pageant...

Also see Miss Universe | Miss Earth

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue | Victoria's Secret Models