China may host Miss World contest

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 ◆ China may host Miss World contest

Sanya, a tropical tourist city on south China's Hainan Island, is likely to become the first Chinese city ever to host the Miss World beauty pageant, says event organizer Julia Morley.

Morley made a five-day trip to Sanya recently to inspect preparations for the China section of the contest, which will be held in September and produce a contestant for the 2003 Miss World finals in Mexico.

While expressing satisfaction with Sanya's tourism environment and the preparatory work, she hinted at the future possibility of Sanya hosting the finals of the annual contest.

Sanya was a beautiful and romantic city, she said. It had hosted several high-profile modeling contests and may successfully host the Miss World beauty pageant as well.

Xinhua has learned that Sanya authorities are actively working toward the goal of hosting the event in the next few years.

Morley, who took over the pageant's reins from her husband Eric Morley, founder of the event, after his death in 2000, is accompanied on her visit by Miss World for 2001, Nigeria's Agbani Darego, and noted film director V.G. Harris.