Miss Puerto Rico lands Miss World 2016 crown

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Puerto Rico's Stephanie Del Valle beats out the competition to be crowned Miss World at a ceremony near Washington D.C.
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle waves after winning the Miss World 2016 Competition. PHOTO: REUTERS
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle reacts after winning the Miss World 2016 Competition. PHOTO: REUTERS
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle holds up the Puerto Rican flag after winning the Miss World 2016 Competition. PHOTO: REUTERS
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle speaks to the media after winning the Miss World 2016 Competition. PHOTO: REUTERS
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle (right) is hugged by Miss Philippines Catriona Elisa Gray after winning the Miss World 2016 Competition. PHOTO: REUTERS
Miss World 2015 Mireia Lalaguna of Spain (left) presents Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle (right) after Del Valle's win in the Miss World 2016 Competition. PHOTO: AFP
First runner up Miss Dominican Republic Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez (left), Miss World 2016 Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico (centre) and second runner up Miss Indonesia Natasha Mannuela (right) stand together after Del Valle's win in the Miss World 2016 competition. PHOTO: AFP

OXON HILL (AFP) - Stephanie del Valle of Puerto Rico was crowned Miss World 2016 on Sunday, edging out runners-up from the Dominican Republic and Indonesia, and beauties from around the globe.

Del Valle, 19, is a brown-eyed brunette student who speaks Spanish, English and French, and hopes to get into the entertainment industry.

Crowned by Miss World 2015 Mireia Lalaguna of Spain, del Valle called it an "honor and a great responsibility" to represent her Caribbean homeland.

First runner-up was Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez of the Dominican Republic, followed by Miss World Indonesia Natasha Mannuela.

Contestants from Kenya and Catriona Gray of the Philippines also were in the final five.

Canada's Miss World representative, Chinese-born Anastasia Lin was embroiled in a controversy when pageant officials reportedly warned her against speaking to the press for three weeks about human rights abuses in China. She was given the green light again on Wednesday.

Last year, China blocked Lin from attending the same contest when it was held in the city of Sanya.

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