The complete guide to betting on the 64th edition of Miss World
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For many, the big event this weekend won’t be at Anfield or St James’s Park, but in the confines of London’s Excel Centre as this year’s Miss World contestants show off their skills in the Talent Challenge.
Oh yes, the competition isn’t simply a competition based on looks, the 124 contestants will also be tested on the wider skills that they can bring to society.
The ladies have already been tested on their sporting aptitude, taking part in events such as the Long Jump, Tug of War, and the dreaded Bleep Test.
Furthermore the beauties will be assessed on their interview techniques, show off a special talent and prove that they have ‘beauty with a purpose’.
Atop this year’s market is South Africa’s Rolene Strauss at 9/4.
She has been well fancied by critics to land the prize, and has already made a good start, finishing third in the sports challenge and landing a top 10 spot in the ‘People’s Choice’ award.
But is there some better value than her skinny odds?
Well, as much as we’d like think that it’s not of major importance, the aesthetics of the contestants plays a huge part in finding the winner.
It’s been 10 years since an overall victor wasn’t in the top five in the ‘Beach Fashion’ challenge (Bikini contest), and six of the last seven champions have placed in the top 10 in the catwalk-style ‘Top Model’ category.
So finding the winner would be best placed looking in the contestants that have been announced to be in the top 20 of the aforementioned ‘Top Model’ contest, though the winner won’t be announced until the Grand Final on December 14th.
And by scouring through the categories that have already been announced (available on Wikipedia), one name sticks out, Koyal Rana.
India’s representative has already landed the ‘Special Award’ based on the best designer dress, and has also performed well in several other disciplines.
She’s in the top five in ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ (favourite Strauss is not), top 10 in ‘The People’s Choice’, and was placed highly in points scoring during the Charity Gala event.
And of the scoring that has not been announced yet, India has won the only two ‘Multimedia Awards’, judged on how candidates present their online persona, making her in a good place to challenge.
Rana has been named in the top 20 in the ‘Top Model’ event, which hopefully, looking at the loose correlation means she will do OK in the bikini cont…I mean ‘Beach Fashion Award’.
So at 7/1 she looks a stonking each-way bet to nothing as the 124 ladies strut their stuff in London this weekend.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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