Miss Peru crowned Miss World 2004

updated 11:50 a.m. ET Dec. 4, 2004

SANYA, China - Miss Peru Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, an aspiring high school teacher, was crowned Miss World 2004 on Saturday night in this southern Chinese beach resort.

Miss Dominican Republic Claudia Julissa Cruz Rodriguez was the first runner-up and Miss USA Nancy Randall was second runner-up.

Mantilla Garcia, 20, wearing a turquoise gown, blew kisses to the crowd as she was crowned. The other contestants then mobbed her with hugs, as pop star Lionel Richie sang his '80s hit "Dancing on the Ceiling" and golden confetti was shot out of cannons from the balcony.

Outside, fireworks lit up the sky.

The title carries a $100,000 prize.

Organizers said the winner was selected by pageant viewers voting by Internet, phone and mobile phone text message. Votes were weighted so contestants from large countries wouldn't get an unfair advantage, organizers said, though the formula wasn't released.

A total of 107 women from around the world competed for the crown in this beach resort on Hainan Island in the South China Sea.

"I'm very surprised but I'm also very happy," Mantilla Garcia told reporters. She said she wanted to do charitable work as Miss World and "help all the people that I can."

A panel of celebrity judges was on hand to offer commentary and help pick the winner in case the high-tech voting system failed.

They included Australian television star Kate Ritchie, West Indian cricket legend Sir Viv Richards, Chinese fashion photographer Li Shaobai and Krish Naidoo, an Ireland-based businessman.

The hosts were British model Lisa Snowdon, Hong Kong television host Angela Chow and Troy McClain, a former contestant on the U.S. reality TV series "The Apprentice."

This was the second straight year the London-based Miss World pageant has been held in Sanya. Organizers announced Friday that the event would be held in Sanya again next year.

MORE FROM ARTS, BOOKS, MORE

Arts, books, more Section Front

Bust of Frank Zappa to grace Baltimore library ‘Friendly Fire’ author C.D.B. Bryan dies at 73 Colbert graces Sports Illustrated cover Meredith Baxter plans to write a memoir Second City still elicits laughs after 50 years Stephen King pays for troops’ holiday trip Pee-wee Herman's big comeback Survey: Theater, museum attendance declining Nude photo of Polanski, Tate sells for $11,250 Ansel Adams ‘Moonrise’ print sells for $360K Arts, books, more Section Front   Add Arts, books, more headlines to your news reader: