Miss World 2021 postponed after some contestants test COVID-19 positive; Uganda’s representative safe
Written by Derrick Asaba on December 18, 2021
“Miss World 2021 temporarily postpones global broadcast finale in Puerto Rico due to health and safety interests of contestants, staff, crew and general public. The finale will be rescheduled at Puerto Rico Coliseum Jose Miguel Agrelot within the next 90 days,” read the introduction of a press release by the Miss World Ltd.
According to the statement by the organizers of the event, this decision was made after meeting with the virologists and medical experts hired to oversee the Miss World 2021 event.
“The next step according to the medical experts is immediate quarantine, pending observation and further testing according to best practices in situations like this,” read part of the statement.
17 contestants and staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Among those infected is; Miss World India, Manasa Varanasi, Miss World Indonesia, Pricilia Carla Yules and Miss World Malaysia Lavanya Sivaji.
The Miss Uganda CEO, Brenda Nanyonjo told Record FM that despite the fact that the debacle befell the Beauty Pageant, Uganda’s reigning queen and Miss World representative, Elizabeth Bagaya is alive and kicking ― in good health.
The Chief Executive Officer of Miss World Ltd, Julia Morley said that they are very much looking forward to the returning of their contestants, who they have grown to know and love, to compete for the Miss World crown.
At a Puerto Rico Health Department press conference held on Thursday this week, epidemiologist Melissa Marzán told reporters that there had been 38 positive cases associated with Miss World, 15 staff and 23 contestants.
Thursday’s finale would have marked a revelation of weeks of Miss World events in Puerto Rico’s capital, San Juan.
Going by the several preliminary competitions, Ivory Coast’s Olivia Yacé was named winner of the pageant’s Top Model portion, Mongolian representative Burte-Ujin Anu won the Miss World Talent contest and Mexico’s Karolina Vidales was named Miss World Sports.
The 70th edition of Miss World 2021 was due to be hosted by English singer and TV personality Peter Andre, Puerto Rican model Stephanie Del Valle and Mexican singer and actor Fernando Allende.
Last year’s pageant was canceled due to the pandemic implying that the 2019 winner Jamaica’s Toni-Ann Singh, remains the reigning titleholder.
