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Some of the planet's most stunning women vie for the Miss World title Saturday night, during a glitzy finale broadcast to more than 200 countries from the Polish capital.
The 104 contenders for the crown will perform choreographed routines, respond to question-and-answer sessions and pose in bathing suits and evening dress during the gala celebration taking place at Warsaw's stately Palace of Culture that was "gifted" to Poland by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
The winner will succeed Miss Iceland's Unnur Birna Vilhajalmsdottir, named Miss World 2005 in China.
Now in its 56th year, Miss World claims to be the globe's largest beauty contest, edging out rival organization Miss Universe.
Saturday's two-hour event caps a month of activities in Poland where the contestants traveled widely, and performed traditional Miss World staples like singing and dancing. They also attended university conferences and, bafflingly, inspected bus engines with Polish police officers.
Four contenders have already cinched coveted places among the 16 finalists for the crown.
Ireland's Catherine Jean Milligan scooped up Miss Talent Show, Ivana Ergig of Croatia won Miss Dress Design and Canadian Malgorzata Majewska and Venezuelan Alexandra Federica Guzman Diamante won Miss Sport and Miss Beach, respectively.
The two billion television viewers expected by the organizers to tune into the competition will be able to vote for their favored winner by sending mobile telephone text messages. Their vote will be combined with the jury's ratings to pick Miss World 2006.
"A Miss World isn't just a doll that walks around with a crown. The more intelligent she is, the more she has a rich interior life, the better off she is. That's the kind of girl I want to choose," said one former Miss World, Aneta Kreglicka of Poland.
Kreglicka counts among a jury that includes Indian director Karan Johan and British Olympic running champion Kelly Holmes.
If history is any judge, India and Venezuela are good bets -- both countries have won five Miss World titles. Britain comes immediately behind with four titles, followed by Sweden, Jamaica and Iceland, which have claimed three titles apiece over the years.
Indeed, one British-hosted betting website this week gave Miss Venezuela the best odds (15/2) followed closely by Miss Australia and Miss India, both at eight to one.
Another betting website came out with similar results, although it ranked Miss Venezuela and Miss Australia dead even for the crown, at nine to one, and Miss India at 11 to one.
Attending the lavish ceremony in person comes at a hefty price. Tickets start at 250 euros (300 dollars) and soar to a deluxe pass of 2,000 euros (2,535 dollars) that includes a banquet diner and a chance to have one's picture taken with the new Miss World.
The evening's masters-of-ceremonies include Chinese actress Angela Chow, British TV presenter and actor Tim Vincent, and Grazyna Torbicka, a prominent journalist from the host nation Poland.
The event's entertainment will be provided by singer Robin Gibb of Bee Gees fame, and the Irish group Westlife.
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AFPLifestyle-MissWorld-women-Poland
AFP 301254 GMT 09 06
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