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Miss South Africa Wins Miss World 2014 Crown; Megan Young Is First Miss World To Host Pageant

| Dec 16, 2014 12:53 AM EST

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Miss World 2013 Megan Young, The Philippines' first winner from the pageant, just took her last walk in the runway of the Miss World 2014 in London before passing on her crown to Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss.

Young, who won the pageant held in Bali, Indonesia in 2013, is also the first Miss World to host the pageant. The Miss World 2013 journeyed to more than 15 countries across the world while promoting Beauty with a Purpose. Young continually proved that she was deserving of her crown during her reign as Miss World 2013.

"I was able to help out my countrymen in ways I never thought possible, because of my Miss World title," said Young during her final interview as Miss World.

Young helped the relief efforts for when typhoon Haiyan, also known as Yolanda in her country, struck in 2013.

Before reigning as Miss World 2013, the Filipino-American was first an actress, a video jockey (VJ) for Channel [V] Philippines, and a host for several local Philippine shows, including entertainment variety show ASAP and US Girls. The Miss World 2013  was "touched and humbled" when she was invited to host the Miss World 2014 Coronation night in London with Welsh actor Tim Vincent, who already presented the 2005, 2006 Miss World contests and a Miss USA pageant in 2007, and Frankie Cena, who won the Mr. World Canada pageant in 2012.

During the interview, Young said that the new Miss World should be patient and that compassion and kindness will "take you a long way."

The Miss World finals was held at the ExCel centre in East London, where the pageant started 63 years ago.

The award and crown was presented by the former Miss World Megan Young to Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss, who is currently taking up medicine at the University of the Free State.

Strauss, 22, was followed by Miss Hungary Edina Kulcsar as the first runner up and Miss United States Elizabeth Safrit as the second runner up.

Miss World 2014 featured 120 contestants from different countries around the world, with most holding a university degree as well as a vast range of hobbies, interest and charity work.

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