2008
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      | The 58th Miss World Final was held in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 13th, 2008. During the weeks prior to the final, Miss World representatives took part in a number of Beauty with a Purpose initiatives. On December 1st, Miss World 2007 Zhang Zilin and South Africa's Tansey Coetzee visited the Dudu Zwane Hospice in Malvern, Johannesburg in commemoration of World AIDS Day and pledged support for the hospice. The contestants hosed a Christmas party at Joburg Zoo for 500 underprivileged children from neighbouring townships and suburbs. And at the Charity and Ambassadors Ball, items brought along by the contestants from their native countries were auctioned off with the proceeds going to charity causes around the city. Russia's Ksenia Sukhinova was crowned Miss World 2008, and she travelled the world in support of Beauty with a Purpose: Vietnam Ksenia embarked on two humanitarian tours of Vietnam in January and May/June 2009. She was joined by Miss World 2007 Zhang Zilin on her first visit, where over $1 million was donated. On her second trip, both Miss World 2004 Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia and Miss World 2006 Tatana Kucharova joined Ksenia on her Charity Footprints tour, visiting some of the poorest families in various provinces to see how the money raised will go towards aid projects including a housing scheme that offers free accommodation to homeless families and a gift program aimed at giving Vietnam’s poorest families some much needed support. On the tour Ksenia travelled the length of Vietnam from the North down to the South, visiting various cities on the way including Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho, and Can Tho. Dang Thi Minh Nguyet from the fundraising department of the Vietnamese Red Cross added “Miss World has done so much to raise money and influence programs to help the old people. Thank you for bringing some happiness to the less fortunate people of our country”. United States The Variety of Iowa Telethon once again welcomed the reigning Miss World as Ksenia Sukhinova helped host proceedings for the annual two-day televised event, which saw a total of $3,170,830 raised to support young disadvantaged Iowans. Wales As part of reigning Miss World Ksenia Sukhinova’s tour she visited Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff Bay, Wales. She was taken on a guided tour of the home by the manager, spending time with residents with Alzheimer’s disease, sensory and hearing difficulties, and dementia. Australia Miss World Ksenia Sukhinova visited Sydney Children’s Hospital to celebrate Variety’s $1million pledge over the next five years. There she met Keira, who was recovering from a recent operation, who said she dreamed one day of becoming Miss World, and so Ksenia removed the Miss World Crown, the symbol of fundraising, from her own head and placed it on Keira’s. Ksenia commented “It was a pleasure to meet Keira, who has been such a brave girl following her operation. I have really enjoyed visiting Sydney Children’s Hospital. It makes me happy knowing that the money is going to such a worthy institution”. Ksenia later joined up with the Variety National Bash, an annual cross-country charity road race, in Alice Springs, New South Wales. She was amongst 2000 other "Bashers" who participated in this year’s 25th anniversary event, which raises funds for Variety, the Children's Charity in Australia. Ksenia met Dick Smith, adventurer and the founder of the Variety National Bash, on the plains of Alice Springs. The Bash itself is the entrants’ reward for a year spent fundraising and it allows Variety to showcase to communities across the country the exceptional work that it carries out for Australian kids. |
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