MISS WORLD: THE YEAR RESUMES WITH CHINA IN THE TOP 10 FOR THE FIRST TIME AND VENEZUELA AS "COUNTRY OF THE YEAR"

December 2, Sanya, CHINA - Miss World, the last grand slam competition of 2008, resumed the year with some interesting twists in the Ranking. China's Miss World victory finally gave it the status of pageant "powerhouse", once it now integrates the top 10 for the first time ever. It was also a very important year for Venezuela, who re conquered its first position and was also named "Country of the Year", in a very fierce dispute with Mexico.

It is the 14th time that Venezuela claims the best performance within one year of Grand Slam competitions. Mexico, who was 2nd very close behind Venezuela, has never had this honor, although in 2005 it was also 2nd (behind Puerto Rico).

The "Best Mover of the Year" was Hong Kong, who climbed 29 positions in the ranking, jumping from 102nd to 73rd place.

Countries with the best performances of the year in their geographic regions were Venezuela (Americas), Angola (Africa), Japan (Asia & Oceania), Czech Republic (Europe) and Trinidad & Tobago.

In the overall Grand Slam Ranking the best in each geographical region after the year's conclusion are Venezuela (Americas), India (Asia & Oceania), Puerto Rico (Caribbean), Spain (Europe) and South Africa (Africa).

There were some significant changes in the top 10 in 2007, like for instance, the considerable fall of South Africa, a country which after many years left the top 5 to a uncomfortable 9th place (and several important points to defend in 2008).

The luck Philippines took over South Africa's 5th position even after a catastrophic performance in 2007, in which this Asian country didn't add up a single point in any of the "big 5".

Canada enjoyed 3 weeks in the top 10 after its surprising Miss Earth victory, but Miss World caused it to be surpassed by China (8th) and Mexico (11th). It's now in the 12th position.

Angola had a fantastic year, having the 4th best performance of 2008 and jumping from 43rd to 31st, being now 2nd in Africa.

Sweden suffered during a few months in a very humiliating 83rd place, but after consistent performances and both Miss Earth and especially Miss World, it returns to the top 50, in 44th place.

Ghana (46th) and Ecuador (49th), have joined the top 50 for the first time in their pageant history.

Grenada made an important comeback, entering the Grand Slam ranking in 87th place.

MISS EARTH: UNEXPECTED VICTORY GETS CANADA BACK INTO THE "TOP 10"

November 11, Manila, PHILIPPINES - Canada managed to beat all the odds and won the Miss Earth title for the first time in its history. The Canadian victory put the North-American country back in the "Top 10", kicking out Brazil, which is now in the 11th position.

Spain, 4th in Miss Earth, made an important move as well, going from 9th to 7th place, up 2 slots. Venezuela remained on the top, followed closely by India.

The biggest mover this time was Georgia, up 17 positions, now 73rd. Romania climbed 9 very important positions as well, and is now close to enter the "Top 50", at 58th place.

Venezuela has a comfortable lead in the run for "Country of the Year", but several countries still have a chance to overcome it depending on their Miss World performances.

The Czech Republic remains the only nation to have placed among the semi-finalists of all Grand Slam competitions in 2007.

To see which countries must defend their points from Miss World 1997, CLICK HERE.

MEXICO WINS MISS INTERNATIONAL AND CLIMBS 2 POSITIONS; INDONESIA UP 16, AFTER SEMIFINAL PLACEMENT

October 15, Tokyo, JAPAN - Another Miss International pageant is concluded and Mexico took the title for the first time ever. Mexico's victory took it to the GSR's 13th position (up 2), right at the door step of the Top 10.

Venezuela recovered the #1 position over India. These two countries defended 20 and 19 points from 1997 respectively. Venezuela got a semifinal spot and 11,5 (-8,5), but India failed to make the cut and lost all 19 points it had earned in 1997.

Brazil was another country who failed to defend its 11,50 points from 1997, as a result, it fell two notches: from 8th to 10th place. Russia, conversely, jumped from 10th to 8th. Spain remained in the 9th position.

The biggest climbers after Miss International's conclusion were Indonesia (76th, up 16) and Belarus (90th, up 14). While Belarus scored for the first time ever, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka scored again after over a decade.

Japan is so far the "Country of the Year" (see ranking below), but the Czech Republic remains the only nation to have placed in all Grand Slam pageants in 2007 so far.

See the Grand Slam ranking after Miss International HERE.

Miss Earth comes next!

FOUR NEWCOMERS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF MISS TOURISM QUEEN INTERNATIONAL

MTQ'07: a memorable Top 10 an 4 newcomers in the Grand Slam Ranking

August 2, Zhengzhou, CHINA - Forget about sash factor! Miss Tourism Queen International had a very interesting group of finalists, including the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, which participated in an international beauty pageant for the first time in history, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, countries which scored in the ranking for the first time ever, and the D. R. of Congo (former Zaire), which scored again after over two decades.

Fernando de Noronha enters the ranking in 89th place, after an excellent third place in the contest. The D.R. of Congo returns in 95th place, while Armenia scores for the first time and is now in the 96th position. Kyrgyzstan ranks as 101st.

Russia's victory meant its return to the Top 10 (10th place), switching places with Canada (now 11th). The Czech Republic keeps on getting important positions as well, and after its representative was 9th at MTQI 07, this Central European country jumped from 15th to 14th in the Grand Slam Ranking, getting closer to a Top 10 spot.

Trinidad & Tobago managed to return to the top 20 (20th, +2), but it was Curacao who really did its homework, as this Caribbean island recovered 15 positions after placing 6th at MTQI. It is now 68th.

2007 HAS ITS FIRST UPDATE IN THE GRAND SLAM RANKING WITH THE CONCLUSION OF MISS UNIVERSE

May 31, Mexico City - MEXICO - Japan has the new Miss Universe, leads the 2007 ranking and has gone 6 spot up in the GS ranking (from 19th to 16th place). 2007 has also started well for Brazil, who's back in the Top 10 after placing second at Miss Universe (8th, +4). As a result, Russia left the Top 10 for the first time in many years. Trinidad & Tobago, who did not participate in the pageant this year, suffered a considerable fall, from #13 to #21 (-8).

India managed to remain on the top, now 5 points ahead of Venezuela, who is still 2nd. Korea entered the Top 20 (20th, up 6), while Panama (33rd, -5), Italy (36th, -5) and Estonia (41st, -7), did not manage to defend their 1997 points and fell in the ranking.

Nevertheless, the most significant falls were Curaçao's and Sweden's. Curaçao has dropped from #47 to #83 (-36), and Sweden, previously at #56, is now tied with Curaçao in 83rd place (a true shame for a country which once was the #1 pageant powerhouse on the planet).

Tanzania, on the other hand, has entered the Top 50 for the first time in history, having risen from the 63rd to the 43rd position (up 20). Angola can't complain either: it's now in 38th place (up 5 notches). Denmark, previously at the 75th position, is now 56th.

Slovenia has scored in the ranking for the first time ever, and is now 87th (up 15).

* * * *

Below you will find the final standings for the Top 10 countries in 2007:

2006

BACK