MISS ENGLAND 2009 - Miss Rachel Christie

The niece of former Olympic sprint champ Linford Christie was crowned the first black Miss England. Rachel Christie, 20, who is set to represent the UK in heptathlon at the 2012 Olympics, triumphed despite being injured in a car crash last Friday. She suffered whiplash and bruising and spent the night in hospital but recovered to scoop the beauty title.

Rachel, from Kensington, West London, told organisers: "My ambition in life is to win gold in the 2012 Olympics. "I want to be successful in whatever I choose to do in life."

Protesters had gathered outside the event at the Metropole Hilton Hotel in Central London to denounce it as sexist. They held banners with slogans "every woman is a queen" and "beauty is not skin deep".

Rachel had been among the bookies' favourites to clinch the title, and she is the first black woman to capture the title.

MISS AUSTRALIA WORLD 2009 - Miss Sophie Lavers

Sophie Lavers, 24, was crowned Miss World Australia 2009 at a ceremony in Sydney tonight, beating 19 other hopefuls. Ms Lavers, from canberra, is completing an acting course and hopes to work in the television or film industry.

The Australian

MISS PUERTO RICO WORLD 2009 - Miss Jennifer Colon Alvarado

21 year-old Jennifer Colon Alvarado, a professional model and architecture student from Bayamon, was crowned Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico 2009 on a televised event held at the Tapia Theater in Old San Juan with the participation of 24 contestants.

The first runner-up was Yara Lasanta from Barranquitas and Melissa Serrano from Vega Baja was second runner-up. Isabela's Amanda Diaz and Juncos' Libni Garcia finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Prior to the competition, several fast-track events were held to select the best contestant in sports, modeling, swimsuit, talent and charity.

The fast-track winners were Rebecca Fernandez, Culebra (Sports); Jennifer Colon, Bayamon (Model); Yara Lasanta, Barranquitas (Swimsuit); Mariselle Morales, Guaynabo (Talent); and Jennifer Ortiz, Orocovis (Charity).

Colón, who stands 1.75m, will represent Puerto Rico at the 59th Miss World pageant to be held on Johannesburg, South Africa on December 12.


Complete Results
Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico 2009: Bayamon, Jennifer Colon Alvarado
1st Runner-Up: Barranquitas, Yara Liz Lasanta Santiago
2nd Runner-Up: Vega Baja, Melissa Serrano Flores
3rd Runner-Up: Isabela, Amanda Diaz Torres
4th Runner-Up: Juncos, Libni Garcia Pabellon

Semi-finalists
Caguas, Glorimar Serrano Rodriguez
Camuy, Carla Harrison Canals
Culebra, Rebecca Fernandez Perez
Guaynabo, Mariselle Morales Cordero
Humacao, Maria Angelica Hernandez Garcia
Orocovis, Jennifer Ortiz Melendez
Ponce, Azarel Nadal Torres

Special Awards
Photogenic: Juncos, Libni Garcia Pabellon
Congeniality: Camuy, Carla Harrison Canals
Face: Juncos, Libni Garcia Pabellon
Hair: Rio Grande, Karen Robles Hernandez