Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle is crowned after winning the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico was crowned Miss World 2016 on Sunday after a tough competition between 116 other contestants at a glittering ceremony held at the MGM National Harbor. She was handed her crown by the reigning Miss World 2015, Mireia Lalaguna.
The 19-year-old Del Valle is a student who speaks Spanish, English and French, and she hopes to make her career in the entertainment industry. After winning the crown, Del Valle called it an "honor and a great responsibility" to represent her Caribbean homeland.
Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez of the Dominican Republic was the first runner-up of the 2016 edition of the pageant and was followed by Miss World Indonesia Natasha Mannuela. Miss Philippines Catriona Elisa Gray and Miss Kenya Evelyn Njambi also made it to the top five of the competition. Contestants from more than 100 countries participated in the 2016 edition of the beauty pageant.
The Miss World contest is one of the oldest international beauty pageants was first started in the UK in 1951 by Eric Morley. The contest was introduced as part of the Festival of Britain. Del Valle is the second titleholder from the Caribbean island after Wilnelia Merced won the title in 1975.
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle waves after winning the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle holds up the Puerto Rican flag after winning the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle has her hair groomed after winning the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Winner of Miss World Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle (C) stands with first runner up Miss Dominican Republic Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez (L) and second runner up Miss Indonesia Natasha Mannuela during the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle stands after winning the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Miss Philippines Catriona Elisa Gray, Miss Dominican Republic Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez, Miss Indonesia Natasha Mannuela, Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle and Miss Kenya Evelyn Njambi Thungu, finalists in the Miss World 2016 competition, stand together in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Miss Indonesia Natasha Mannuela (R) is congratulated by Miss Philippines Catriona Elisa Gray after Mannuela was named a finalist in the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle (C) reacts to being named Miss World as Miss Philippines Catriona Elisa Gray (L) and Miss Kenya Evelyn Njambi Thungu watch during in the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Miss Dominican Republic Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez (L) is congratulated by Miss Korea Hyun Wang and Miss Mongolia Bayartsetseg Altangerel after she was named a finalist in the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016Reuters
Miss Mongolia Bayartsetseg Altangerel participates in the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Miss Korea Hyun Wang participates in the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Miss India Priyadarshini Chatterjee participates in the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Miss China Jing Kong participates in the Miss World 2016 competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Competitors dance during the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
Competitors dance during the Miss World 2016 Competition in Oxen Hill, Maryland, U.S., December 18, 2016.Reuters
