Russian contestant Kseniya Sukhinova

Trindad and Tobago’s Gabrielle Walcott was second runner-up and India’s Parvathay Omanakuttan was first runner-up, from among 109 contestants.

Millions of people were expected to watch the annual pageant, being held in Johannesburg.

It was the sixth time that South Africa has held the event, more than any other country except England.

South Africa organisers were said to be keen to calm concerns about the country’s ability to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

For this first time in the competition’s history, viewers in 180 countries had the opportunity to vote for one of the semi-finalists through the internet.

An international jury decided the winner.Miss Sukhinova is from Siberia, studying for an engineering degree.