The Miss World competition began in 1951 in the UK as a beauty pageant and quickly became an annual international event. It grew in popularity through the 20th century despite facing criticism and controversies, particularly from feminist groups. In the late 20th century, it expanded globally and introduced the "Beauty with a Purpose" initiative to focus on contestants' charity work. The modern era has seen efforts to rebrand Miss World as empowering for women, emphasizing personal achievements and social contributions over physical appearance. Today, Miss World is one of the most recognized beauty contests, promoting diverse representations of beauty and humanitarian causes.
