Miss India wins Miss World contest

Priyanka Chopra - Miss World 2000

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Miss India has been crowned as Miss World 2000, beating 94 other contestants for the title.

Eighteen-year-old Priyanka Chopra watched as two runners up left the stage -- one of them, Miss Italy, in tears.

Earlier guests arriving for the final at London's Millennium Dome were jeered and heckled by protesters who claimed the pageant is demeaning to women.

Around 200 people from the National Union of Students Women's Campaign brandished placards and yelled slogans as the finishing touches were being put to the event, now celebrating its 50th anniversary.

While 95 women were preparing to be viewed by an anticipated worldwide television audience of two billion, the protesters braved the cold to let their feelings be known.

A spokesperson for the demonstrators said: "Miss World does not have anything to do with women's intellect.

"Also it does not help with women's self-image.

"We have statistics which show that 99% of women are unhappy with their bodies and this sort of pageant only goes to reinforce stereotypes and fuel problems for young girls such as eating disorders."

The ceremony was hosted by TV's Jerry Springer and was broadcast live on the UK's Channel Five network.

Miss World was started in 1951 by entertainer Eric Morley, who died aged 82 earlier this month.

'Beyond titillation': Miss World reaction
November 28, 2000

Miss World winners

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