Aussie favourite Madeline Cowe misses out on Miss World as Puerto Rico wins global title
SHE was a hot favourite to take out the Miss World crown but Madeline Cowe’s campaign to bring the tiara home to Australia for the first time in 44 years is over.
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SHE was a hot favourite to take out the Miss World crown but Madeline Cowe’s campaign to bring the tiara home for the first time in 44 years is over.
Stephanie Del Valle, of Puerto Rico, won the beauty contest, beating a string of contestants including Australian law student Cowe who made the top 20 in Washington DC.
The last Aussie to have won Miss World was Belinda Green — who was married to John Singleton for several years — in 1972.
All eyes were on the 23-year-old, from rural far north Queensland town Tully to take out the title which kicked off on November 26.
She finished in the top 20 among countries inclding China PR, Philippines, Cook Islands, Mongolia, Indonesia, France, Kenya, and the United States.
Placed in the top five were Kenya, Indonesia, Dominican Republic and Philippines.
Cowe, who has been in Washington preparing for the pageant for the past three weeks, won the Miss World Australia title in June this year and had big hopes for the global gong.
The Miss World contest was launched in the UK in 1951, and is one of the oldest international beauty pageants.
A total of 117 candidates have been vying for the coveted title.
At the end of the ceremony, current Miss World Mireia Lalaguna of Spain will hand over her crown to her successor.
“When I see all the contestants, I feel that I would really like to live the experience again. It brings to my mind a lot of amazing memories. It’s not jealousy, but I truly want to be back in this cultural exchange. When I watch the girls, I want to relive all of the competitions — Sports, Top Model, etc,” Lalaguna said.
“I can see in them that I am their reference point and I try to give everyone tips and help the nervous ones. I remind them to enjoy each and every day because it goes by so quickly.”
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