Miss USA is feeling on top of the world

TEENAGER Alexandria Mills had the world at her feet yesterday despite being a long way from home.

The 18-year-old Miss USA representative took the Miss World title at a contest in southern China last night.

Runner-up in the global beauty pageant, which attracted entries from more than 100 countries, was Emma Wareus, of Botswana, while Miss Venezuala, Adriana Vasini, took third place.

China's own contestant, Tang Xiao, finished in the final five along with Miss Ireland Emma Britt Waldron.

The venue for the contest was the resort of Sanya on the Chinese island of Hainan. China stepped up to take over the contest after Vietnam, the orginal hosts, pulled out. After reaching an agreement with the rights holder Julia Morley, there were disputes that the development of the venue would violate environmental planning agreements.

Alexandria, from Louisville, Kentucky, recently graduated from high school and has ambitons to become a teacher.

She described herself as a "positive, spontaneous, open- minded and outgoing person" who has ambitions to "travel the world and pursue a career in landscape and architectural photography".

She was previously runner-up in the Miss World Beach Beauty fast track event in October, and second-runner-up in Miss World Top Model.

This is the 60th year of the Miss World Competition.