Crowing glory: Miss America Alexandria Mills was named the winner of Miss World at Saturday night's contest in southern China

Alexandria Mills, a soft-spoken 18-year-old American, was named the winner of the Miss World contest tonight.

The blonde Southern belle was a relative surprise winner after speculation focused on other contestants.

Second place went to Emma Wareus of Botswana, and Adriana Vasini of Venezuela came third.

Thrilled: The 18-year-old calls Louisville, Kentucky, her hometown, and she recently graduated from high school

Tears: The blonde was overcome with emotion after the announcement

The event was held in China this year, with the host country's own contestant, Tang Xiao, among the final five.

According to a brief biography on the Miss World website, Mills calls Louisville, Kentucky, her hometown, and she recently graduated from high school. She would like to become a teacher.

'I've never met a stranger and enjoy meeting new people,' she says in the bio.
For the final, she was wearing a shimmering ivory-colored dress slit up the leg.

Runners up: Miss Botswana Emma Wareus and Miss Venezuela Adriana Vasini came second and third

Mills takes over the title from Kaiane Aldorino of Gibraltar, who was named Miss World 2009 at a ceremony in South Africa last December.

Women from more than 100 countries participated in the contest, organizers said.
This is the 60th year of the Miss World Competition, and organizers brought back contestants from past decades to give the night a retrospective theme

Frock stars: Women from more than 100 countries participated in the contest, now in its 60th year