What it takes to be Miss World For a little girl watching Jamaicas Toni-Ann Singh being crowned by her predecessor in a surreal, tear- jerking moment, with sheer joy and glamour seeping through even the TV screen, being Miss World means being a celebrated and adored princess. But amidst the statuesque ladies, shiny crown and beautiful, glistening evening gowns lies a wealth of history and an important platform for the discussion of societal change. Both Miss World and Miss Universe are among the big four international beauty pageants. They are widely covered and broadcast by media, and are considered prestigious. Miss Earth and Miss International complete the foursome. Miss World Miss World began as a bikini contest during the Festival of Britain celebrations in 1951, and was initially known as the Festival Bikini Contest. The show aimed to get people warmed up to the idea of bikinis, which were widely regarded as controversial and indecent at the time. The first ever Miss ...