Johannesburg: South African city Johannesburg has been selected to host this year's Miss World Pageant.

It is for the sixth time that the city is hosting this prestigious event, said the government of Gauteng Province in which Johannesburg is located.

Earlier, the organisers decided to change the previous location of Kiev in the Ukraine after concerns about the conflict in nearby Georgia.

Miss World Ltd Chairperson Julia Morley said she was impressed by Johannesburg's bid as the city implemented its proposal with great speed and professionalism.

"This demonstrates that we can stage a successful Miss World in Johannesburg," she said.

Zin Lin Zhang of China won the Miss world 2007.

The host country is looking forward to their contestant, current Miss South Africa, Tansy Coetzee to emulate the successes of former South African Miss world title holders Penny Coelen and Anneline Kriel who claimed the title in 1958 and 1974 respectively.

India hosted the Pageant in 1996 in Bangalore but the event was marred by controversies over swimsuit round which had to be shifted to Seychelles.

India has won the prestigious title for five times. The last winner was current Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who won the title in 2000 in London.
Source : PTI