Free State student's title triumph 'real team effort'

MISS South Africa, 22-year-old Rolene Strauss, was crowned Miss World 2014 at the pageant's final in London last night, with an estimated billion viewers watching around the globe.

Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, was runner-up and Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit, came third in the 64th annual competition, contested by women from 121 countries.

Medical student Strauss clasped her hands together in surprise and was crowned by the outgoing Miss World, Megan Young, of the Philippines, before a fireworks finale.

"South Africa this is for you," Strauss, the University of the Free State's first successfully conceived test tube baby, said afterwards.

This year's event had been rocked by the murder of Miss Honduras, 19-year-old Maria Jose Alvarado, who was shot dead along with her sister last month. Their bodies were found on the day the beauty queen was due to travel to London.

Strauss will travel to the violence-hit central American nation to build a school named in the sisters' honour.

An hour after her victory, Strauss said: "I'd just like to say to everyone in South Africa: Thank you for your support. I love you. This crown is dedicated to all of you. I love you."

The last time a South African won was in 1974 when Anneline Kriel wore the crown. Penelope Anne Coelen took the title in 1958.

Former Miss SA Melinda Bam, also the Miss SA national executive, guided Strauss throughout her journey. Bam was with Strauss's parents when their daughter won.

They said: "We know Rolene will make us and the country proud. This is an unbelievable surprise. This was a real team effort too."

Bam said: "When they called out her name, you probably had to pick us up from the ground. We'd like to thank everyone for their support.

"No other girl deserves this title as much as she does, so we're incredibly proud of our new Miss World." – Andile Ndlovu. Additional reporting by AFP