The Miss World beauty competition celebrates its 60th birthday this year in the same British city where it began, way back in 1951. The first Miss World contest was held during the Festival of Britain on the South Bank of the River Thames with the aim of finding the most beautiful woman in the world.

This time around, the beauty pageant will conclude in the Earls Court exhibition center in London on Sunday, when the previous year's winner, Alexandria Mills, will crown her successor.

The Miss World organization and the participating contestants have always been associated with charitable events and causes. According to a recent press release, “This year, over half the Miss World 2011 participants are in full-time education studying for a degree, one in four are already graduates, and over half speak three or more languages.”

“Behind Miss World’s enduring popularity, there has always been a vigorous charitable purpose which has to date raised hundreds of millions of pounds for global charity projects through the programme Beauty with a Purpose.”

This year, £100,000 was raised by the Beauty with a Purpose event at the Miss World Charity Dinner held in the Grand Ballroom at London’s Hilton Park Lane Hotel on Monday.

The Miss World talent performers showcased their skills as dancers, musicians, and singers as they raised funds that will go to support sick and disadvantaged children.

Check out the pictures of the Miss World 2011 talent contestants.
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