Miss China, 23-year-old Wenxia Yu, took the title of Miss World 2012 on Saturday.
The 5 foot 8 beauty queen beat out 115 other contestants, including Sophie Elizabeth Moulds of Wales and Jessica Michelle Kahawaty of Australia, who were first and second runners-up, respectively.
"When I was young I felt very lucky because so many people helped me and I hope in the future, I can help more children to feel lucky," Yu said after her win was announced.
Yu, a music student who says she aspires to be a teacher, brought the win home to China, which hosted the event at Dongsheng Stadium in the northeastern city of Ordos. China has hosted the competition, which has been held annually since 1951, five times, and last took the crown in 2007. While the pageant isn’t as well known in the U.S. as Miss Universe, it’s highly regarded internationally.
Last year’s winner was Ivian Sarcos Colmenares of Venezuela, which has produced six Miss World title holders, the most of any country.