Miss Czech Republic Tatana Kucharova was crowned Miss World 2006, in rivalry with 103 beauties, at a gleaming pageant show in Warsaw.

The eighteen-year-old Czech student defeated 103 other women in voting by a panel of judges and television viewers around the world during a two-hour finals ceremony in the Polish capital.

Miss Romania Ioana Valentina Boitor, 17, was the first runner-up and Miss Australia Sabrina Houssami, 20, was second runner-up.

Wearing a long white dress, a teary Kucharova blew kisses to the 2,500 audience members in Warsaw's Congress Hall after she received her diamond crown from Miss World 2005, Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir of Iceland.

The 104 contenders for the crown performed choreographed routines, responded to question-and-answer sessions and posed in bathing suits and evening dress. The gala celebration took place at Warsaw's stately Palace of Culture that was "gifted" to Poland by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

In its 56th year, Miss World claims to be the globe's largest beauty contest, edging out rival organisation Miss Universe.

The organizers of the pageant said this year's finals offered the widest-ever participation of voters around the world via the Internet. Votes were also submitted in text messages sent from mobile phones.

Warsaw is only the second European capital after London to host the Miss World contest, organizers said.

Tatana was born in Trnava and grew up in Opocno.

A high school student, her ambition is to attend university, graduate, have a modelling career that she hopes will enable her to travel; and to be a good parent one day.

Her hobbies are tennis, volleyball, horse riding, ice-skating and many other sports. She enjoys dance and listening to music with a nice melody.

Tatana likes to spend time with her many pets, she has: cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, a bird and a turtle.

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