Miss World 2017 candidates have started arriving in Sanya, China to compete in this year’s pageant. The prestigious competition is set to have new features as it kicks off its fast track events.
Candidates from around 120 countries have started arriving in the Asian city such as the delegate from Guyana, Caribbean Life News reported. Other contestants shown on their official social media page making their way to China include those from Brazil, Cyprus, El Salvador, England, Finland, Ghana, and Lebanon.
The girls were seen carrying their respective national flags along with their travel luggage.
Also arriving early in Sanya include candidates from Mexico, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Venezuela and the Philippines.
‘Dances of the World' returns
This year’s edition of Miss World will also see the return of “Dances of the World” competition. This event will feature the candidates in their national costumes and present their native dances on stage.
Though not all the contestants have set foot in China, rehearsals for this particular round in the contest have already started. For instance, Miss Philippines Laura Lehmann’s costume is a Maria Clara dress with blue lining on the skirt, local news Rappler reported.
Brazil’s Gabrielle Vilela chose to wear a festival-inspired outfit but designed to have lighter fabrics.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Cynthia Menard will have a simple white ensemble but with a gigantic maple leaf as her headpiece.
New format
Miss World 2017 will also have a new format throughout the competition. Aside from the fast track challenges, this format called “Head to Head Challenge” will focus on the social media presence of the ladies.
The candidates will have to present themselves online through videos and answer some questions from the community. It will take place from October 21 to November 15 and the public will choose the winner, the official website said. The winner of this challenge will automatically earn a secure spot in the Top 40 during the coronation night.
Puerto Rico
In the final event, Stephanie Del Valle from Puerto Rico will crown the new winner of Miss World 2017. She was crowned in December 2016 in Washington, D.C. in the United States.
However, this year’s representative from Puerto Rico will not be participating in the pageant. National directors of the beauty tilt in the Caribbean nation revealed this decision not to send a representative because of the recent tragedies in the region. The nation has been severely devastated by a hurricane several weeks ago.
