DHAKA: Miss Philippines Megan Young was crowned the 63rd Miss World pageant at a ceremony in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Saturday.

Wearing a pink gown, Young waved to the audience after winning the title, reports thehimalayantimes.com.

The title of the first runner-up was handed over to Marine Lorphelin of France and Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter of Ghana became the second runner-up in the contest.

There were altogether 130 contestants representing their respective countries from across the globe fighting for the title.

Indonesian government arranged a tight security ahead of the crowning of Miss World on the resort island of Bali, where the event was moved following protests by Muslim hardliner groups.

Despite threats from the Islamic Defenders Front to disrupt Saturday night’s crowning, police say no rallies have been staged.

The group has demonstrated for weeks, calling for the government to cancel the pageant because members say it goes against Islamic teachings.

Miss World organisers had earlier agreed to cut bikinis from the swimsuit competition, replacing them with more conservative sarongs.

But pressure continued to mount, and more mainstream groups joined in and called for the show to be banned.

The government announced three weeks ago that the final would be moved to Hindu-dominated Bali from the outskirts of the capital, Jakarta.

BDST: 2012 HRS, SEPT 28, 2013
RoR/SRS