Who is the most beautiful, talented and altruistic woman in "the world"?
She speaks the ancient language of the Vikings. Her career ambition is to become a criminal lawyer. She is twenty-one years of age. She loves to hike, camp and play the piano. She has a passion for children. Her motto is, "You are what you do." And her mother shared the same title as the representative for her nation in 1983.
Can you guess?
Her name is Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir.
And her previous title?
Miss Iceland.
According to a panel of nine former winners of the competition, including Ann Sidney, Miss World 1964 from England and the Chairman of the competition, Mrs. Julia Morley (who has also run the Mister World bi-annual competition since 1996), Miss Iceland took the cake and was the icing too in this year's competition.
On Saturday, December 10th, 2005, Unnur Birna, an anthropology and law student and part-time policewoman, was crowned Miss World 2005.
The Miss World 2005 competition took place on the tropical resort island of Hainan in Saina, China. This was the third year the event took place in a vacation spot that has become a favorite in southern China. Hainan Island began hosting the Miss World Pageant in 2003. The pageant was founded in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. 2005 marked the 55th Miss World competition.
Miss World 2005, Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir
Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir entered the Miss Iceland competition to honor the memory of her late grandmother who made many of the dresses worn by contestants over the years.
Miss Iceland got great advice from her mother (seen left), who was crowned Miss Iceland in 1983.
Unnur Steinsson made it to the Top Five in the global contest that year.
Unnur Steinsson's daughter said:
My mum gave me some advice for how to behave, and it seems to have worked.
She told me to be myself, not be fake in any way, and to relax.
I am so pleased that she was able to be here to see me win the title.
The last Miss Iceland to win the Miss World competition was Linda Petursdottir in 1988.
In 1994, Petursdottir became a successful businesswoman when she opened Badhusid - Iceland Spa & Fitness. Today, this ladies-only health spa, where women come to rejuvenate their body, mind and soul, is the largest spa in Iceland.
The year Linda won the Miss World competition, Unnur Birna's grandmother made Petursdottir's gown.
1985 was the first year Miss Iceland won the Miss World competition.
Her name? Hofi Karlsdottir.
Hofi was Miss Iceland, Queen of Europe and Miss World for 1985.
Only four other nations have won as many or more times as Iceland. Jamaica and Sweden have also both won three times. The United Kingdom has won four times. And India and Venezuela have won the Miss World competition five times since 1951.
The agenda for Miss World 2005 in 2006 will be explicitly altruistic, as it has been since its inception in 1951.
Throughout the coming year, Unnur Birna will serve as a goodwill ambassador and charity fundraiser for children's causes.
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