South African woman wins Miss World beauty pageant in London

Rolene Strauss of South Africa is crowned Miss World 2014 at the ExCel Centre in east London, December 14, 2014. Contestants from 126 countries are in London to compete in the 2014 Miss World competition, the 63rd time the annual event has taken place. [Photo/Agencies]

A 22-year-old South African woman, Rolene Strauss, won the Miss World 2014 beauty pageant in London on Sunday, the organizers said in a statement.

Hungary's Edina Kulcsár came second and Elizabeth Safrit, representing the United States, came third.

This year's pageant, the 64th, was marred by tragedy after a Honduran beauty queen was found shot dead in a suspected crime of passion days before she was due to take part.

The pageant's 124 contestants traveled to the Oxford Union society earlier this month to discuss whether such competitions still had a place in modern society. British media reported that some students from Oxford University were disappointed that the event failed to generate a lively debate on the subject.