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Associated Press

Spain’s Mireia Lalaguna Royo was named the winner of the Miss World 2015 competition tonight in the southern Chinese island resort of Sanya – an event dogged by controversy over China’s refusal to allow Canada’s entrant to attend.
Sofia Nikitchuk of Russia was the runner-up and Indonesia’s Maria Harfanti took third place in the final following a lengthy competition featuring 114 women.
Watch: Spanish beauty queen crowned Miss World 2015 in China

Each had won the right to represent their country in a series of local and regional competitions.
The victory marked the first-ever win for a Spanish contestant.

Lalaguna is a 23-year-old model from Barcelona with a degree in pharmacology who plans to pursue a master’s degree in nutrition. She placed first in the competition’s top model contest and appeared to impress the judges with her public speaking.
READ MORE: Miss World Canada denied China entry at Hong Kong airport after human rights advocacy
Not present was Miss Canada, Chinese-born Anastasia Lin, who had been prevented from boarding her connecting flight to Sanya from Hong Kong last month after China refused her a visa.

Lin is an outspoken critic of Chinese religious policy and a follower of the Falun Gong meditation practice, which was outlawed by China in 1999.
She said that after she won the Canadian title, Chinese security agents visited her father, who still lives in China, in an apparent attempt to intimidate her into silence.
Watch: Canadian beauty queen barred from leaving Hong Kong for China after human rights advocacy


China has hosted the competition seven times, starting in 2003, part of its attempts to project a more modern, outgoing image. However, the controversy over Lin’s attendance illustrates the authoritarian communist government’s determination to do so on its own terms, regardless of the cost to the country’s reputation.
Neither Beijing nor the London-based Miss World Organization has commented on the controversy.
READ MORE: Miss World contestant puts pageant chances on the line to testify to US Congress about China’s human rights
It was the second consecutive year that outside events intruded on the competition. Last year’s contest in London was marred by the murder the month before of Miss Honduras and her sister in that country.
The first Miss World contest was held 64 years ago in Britain.


Spain’s Mireia Lalaguna Royo crowned Miss World as controversial competition finishes in China

Mireia Lalaguna Rozo of Spain waves after winning the new title at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, in southern China's Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE

Mireia Lalaguna Rozo Miss World Spain is crownd after winning the new title at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, in southern China's Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE

Miss World China, Lu Yuan (C) performs at the Miss World Grand Final in Sanya, southern China's Hainan province on December 19, 2015. Contestants from over 110 countries compete in the final of the 65th Miss World Competition. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE

Mireia Lalaguna Rozo of Spain waves after winning Miss World in Sanya, in southern China's Hainan province. Contestants from more than 110 countries competed in the final. Photo: AFP

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Spain’s Mireia Lalaguna Royo crowned Miss World as controversial competition finishes in China

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