Miss World 1994

Aishwarya Rai
INDIA

When 87 beautiful women from 87 different countries arrived to Sun City, in the new and free South Africa, Aishwarya Rai, Miss India, became an immediate favorite. She was selected as Miss Photogenic, and won the hearts of South Africans, the media, and on November 17, 1994, she won not only the judges' hearts, but also their precious votes. By unaminity, she was declared the new Miss World. This student of Architecture, 21 at that time, was one of the most gorgeous beauty queens ever. Miss Rai was also impressive every time she spoke. She was smart and very eloquent. First runner-up was Miss South Africa. The hometown girl was only the second black woman to win her national beauty pageant. Second runner-up was Miss Venezuela, an usual favorite, who also won the prize for Best National Costume. Some history was made during the magnificent production the Miss World Organization and Sun City put together for the third year in a row in Sun City: Miss Zimbabwe made the top 5 for the first time in its history in a major beauty competition (the other finalist was Croatia); President Mandela himself welcomed all 87 contestants, exchanging a few words and taking pictures with all of them; Miss China sent a beautiful candidate, the first and only so far to represent the most populous country in the world in Miss World, Universe, or International. Despite her impressive looks and height, she was not a finalist. Russia's Anna Malova, who was the previous year's Miss Baltic Sea, had no luck in this pageant - but it was probably excellent training for her better standing at Miss Universe in 1998. Joyce Giraud, 2nd runner-up in Miss Universe 98, represented Puerto Rico in Miss World 94 and did not make the cut.