In 2007, the contestants experienced an exciting month-long festival, leading up to the spectacular final that took place in Sanya, Hainan Province, China on World AIDS Day December 1 2007.

The contestants visited a number of popular spots in mainland China and viewed the preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games. They experienced not only the beauty and fascination of Sanya, but also the magnificent and historic sights of Beijing and Chengdu.

Highlights for the Chengdu Visit include visiting the Panda Breeding programme, where contestants learnt about the amazing breeding programme and its great success.

The contestants received a very special Olympic preview in Beijing, where visits to the Olympic Stadium and a special event with Olympic stars were scheduled. They also had the honour of recording for MTV the Olympic Song ‘Share the Dream’ which was heard all over the world in the build up to the 2008 Olympics.

In the lead up to the crowning of 2007’s Miss World, events taking place in Sanya included the Miss World Beach final, the World Beach Party, together with the Miss World Chinese Fashion Show, where Miss World contestants modelled spectacular Chinese costumes from all the Chinese dynasties, in a very special presentation.

Beauty with a Purpose 2007 joined forces with the Red Cross China to assist in raising funds to build healthcare centres across China and its ethnic areas. In co-operation with CCTV, a starstudded Gala evening took place at the Great Hall of The People, in which the contestants performed traditional dances and also brought gifts from each country for auction. It was a truly memorable evening realizing an astonishing $5.5 million USD. They also had the great privilege of seeing some of the valuable work the Red Cross do across China.

Message from Nelson Mandela “Good day to all in Sanya and across China - we are deeply concerned about the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic. And it is our dearest wish that people across the globe will help to get rid of the stigma that surrounds this tragic disease.

In doing so, we will assist those living with HIV/AIDS. To realize their hopes and dreams for a longer life and a brighter future.

It is in our hands”

MISS WORLD - CHINA PR - Zilin ZHANG

Nelson Mandela’s daughter, Maki Mandela was on stage at the Miss World Final to announce the Beauty with a Purpose winner. She said “I am very honoured to announce the award for Beauty with a Purpose. For the first time ladies and gentlemen, we have two winners of the Beauty with a Purpose this year. The winners are Miss Hong Kong and Miss Ecuador”.

Winner - ECUADOR & HONG KONG

Finalists:

Jamaica - supported hurricane victims. She was able to hand-over a cheque worth 300,000 dollars to the Jamaican Red Cross to help rebuild the homes of victims

Indonesia - provided cleft lip surgeries for underprivileged children.

Sweden - worked as a stay-in-helper for the disabled. She worked with Marguerite Agren who was born with CP condition that affects her heart, organs and bones.

The Miss World Family Party was inspired by the Mandela Choir.

Featuring a range of talent from flower arranging to a perfusion of singing styles.

On an evening dedicated to the Chinese Dynasty’s, the judges had their work cut out as they faced awe inspiring designs.

The 2007 Sports fast track kicked off with a team challenge. The teams were - The Pink Panthers, The Red Dragons, The Green Cranes and The Golden Lions. There were nerves, there was encouragement and team work was essential. They took to the pool for the relay with one winner - The Red Dragons.

On to raft building - encouragement and support helped but tight knots were critical. Once they had assembled their rafts, the teams had to get them in the water, around the boat and back to shore as fast as possible. Some tough competition from The Pink Panthers but The Green Cranes easily took top honours.

It was very different in the beach sprint relay, where The Golden Lions took the lead and never looked back, and despite a last second challenge from the green cranes, The Lions won it by a whisker which left The Green Cranes in top spot.

Straight into the individual beach sprint, the four cranes fought it out but USA ran away with it.

Only the swim sprint left for Wales, Scotland and Sweden to fight back, but USA once again displayed her dominance.

Winner - United States