Alongside its rival Miss Universe, Miss Earth, and Miss International contests, this pageant is one of the most publicised beauty contests in the world.
The winner spends a year travelling to represent the Miss World Organization and its various causes. Traditionally, Miss World lives in London during her reign.
Miss World 2010, the 60th Miss World pageant, might be held on October 30th, 2010, in Sanya People's Republic of China. Kaiane Aldorino of Gibraltar, Miss World 2009 will crown her successor at the end of the event.
Miss World Titleholders
| Year | Country | Miss World | Location | |
| 2010 | Sanya, China | Meet Contetsnats | ||
| 2009 | Gibraltar | Kaiane Aldorino | Johannesburg, South Africa | ALBUM |
| 2008 | Russia | Ksenia Sukhinova | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 2007 | China | Zhang Zilin | Sanya, China | |
| 2006 | Czech Republic | Taťána Kuchařová | Warsaw, Poland | |
| 2005 | Iceland | Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir | Sanya, China | |
| 2004 | Peru | María Julia Mantilla | Sanya, China | |
| 2003 | Ireland | Rosanna Davison | Sanya, China | |
| 2002 | Turkey | Azra Akın | London, United Kingdom | |
| 2001 | Nigeria | Agbani Darego | Sun City, South Africa | |
| 2000 | India | Priyanka Chopra | London, United Kingdom | |
| 1999 | India | Yukta Mookhey | ||
| 1998 | Israel | Linor Abargil | ||
| 1997 | India | Diana Hayden | ||
| 1996 | Greece | Irene Skliva | ||
| 1995 | Venezuela | Jacqueline Aguilera | ||
| 1994 | India | Aishwarya Rai | ||
| 1993 | Jamaica | Lisa Hanna | ||
| 1992 | Russia | Julia Kourotchkina | ||
| 1991 | Venezuela | Ninibeth Leal | ||
| 1990 | United States | Gina Tolleson | ||
| 1989 | Poland | Aneta Kręglicka | ||
| 1988 | Iceland | Linda Pétursdóttir | ||
| 1987 | Austria | Ulla Weigerstorfer | ||
| 1986 | Trinidad & Tobago | Giselle Laronde | ||
| 1985 | Iceland | Hólmfríður Karlsdóttir | ||
| 1984 | Venezuela | Astrid Carolina Herrera | ||
| 1983 | United Kingdom | Sarah-Jane Hutt | ||
| 1982 | Dominican Republic | Mariasela Álvarez | ||
| 1981 | Venezuela | Pilín León | ||
| 1980 | Guam | Kimberley Santos | ||
| | West Germany | Gabriella Brum (Resigned) |