Miss Peru, 20-year-old Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, was crowned Miss World 2004 on December 5 in China. 107 contestants from all over the world took part in the beauty pageant held for the second time in the resort town of Sanya. For the first time in 54 years the winner was chosen not by a panel of judges, but by the viewers worldwide who voted for the contestants via telephone, SMS text messages and Internet.

Maria Garcia, whose victory was a little surprising as she wasn’t among the five contestants earlier chosen to be finalists after winning various competitions in the past weeks, told reporters:

“I was surprised, yes, very surprised but am very happy too.”

“The fact that I am the first Miss World to be decided by a global vote makes this award unbelievably precious,” reported AFP.

The Peruvian beauty was crowned by her last year’s predecessor, Miss Ireland, Rosanna Davidson, daughter “Lady in Red” performer Chris de Burgh, and earned 100,000 dollars in prize money.

Mantilla Garcia, who was born in Trujillo on the north coast of Peru and is studying to become a high school teacher, said her plans for the next year include getting involved in charitable activities and learning more English.

The two runners-up were18-year-old Miss Dominican Republic, Claudia Julissa Cruz-Rodriguez, and America’s Nancy Randall, 24. Other contestants who made it into the elite five were 20-year-old Miss Philippines, Ma Karla Bautista, and Miss Poland, Katarzyna Borowicz, 19.

Last year, China removed its 54-year ban on beauty contests and hosted Miss World in Sanya for the first time. This year ticket prices for the grandiose show, which is now viewed by many Chinese people as a symbol of progress and openness, ranged from 20 to 2,000 dollars. Miss World organizer Julia Morley said the 55th contest next year would be held in Sanya for the third consecutive year. Officials of the town hope to make the resort the top Asian tourist destination.