Miss World 2006

Poland's Palace of Culture in Warsaw is aglow for the Miss World 2006 pageant, which took place there Sept. 30, 2006. This year's event was expected to attract a record television audience of 2 billion.

Newly crowned Miss World 2006, Tatana Kucharova of the Czech Republic, smiles during a press conference in Warsaw Oct. 1, 2006. She won the Miss World title for the Czech Republic for the first time ever in a glitzy finale of the beauty pageant h watched by an estimated 2 billion viewers in more than 200 countries.

All 105 contestants take the stage during the Miss World 2006 pageant at Warsaw's Palace of Culture on Sept. 30, 2006 in Poland. The 105 contestants have been touring the country the past month in their scanty dresses and bathing wear.

Contestants are seen during the opening Beachwear round of Miss World 2006 pageant at Warsaw's Palace of Culture on Sept. 30, 2006. Miss World started in the U.K. in 1951 and is now more popular in Asia and Africa. It has waned in popularity in the West as European women's rights groups campaigned against it.

Contestants show off their bathing suits during the Beachwear round of Miss World 2006 pageant at Warsaw's Palace of Culture on Sept. 30, 2006 in Poland.

Tim Vincent is flanked by his fellow presenters during Miss World 2006 pageant at Warsaw's Palace of Culture on Sept. 30, 2006, in Poland.

Contestants of the Miss World 2006 contest applaud Miss Vietnam, Thuy Mai Phuong, who reached the semi-finals in the Congress Hall Sept. 30, 2006 in Warsaw. Some of the planet's most stunning women vie for the Miss World title.

Contestants in the Miss World 2006 contest applaud Miss Romania, Ioana Valentina Boitor, who qualified for the semi-finals in Congress Hall in Warsaw's Palace of Culture Sept. 30, 2006.

The final six contestants line up on stage during Miss World 2006 at Warsaw's Palace of Culture on Sept. 30, 2006, in Warsaw.

Miss Czech Republic, Tatana Kucharova, reacts just after her name was announced as Miss World 2006 at Warsaw's Palace of Culture Sept. 30, 2006.

Miss World 2005, left, Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir of Iceland, crowns Miss Czech Republic, Tatana Kucharova, as Miss World 2006 in the Congress Hall in Palace of Culture in Warsaw Sept. 30, 2006.

Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir of Iceland, left, hugs Miss Czech Republic, Tatana Kucharova, as she was named Miss World 2006 in the Congress Hall in Palace of Culture in Warsaw Sept. 30, 2006.

Newly-crowned Miss World 2006, Tatana Kucharova of Czech Republic, is in the center, surrounded by the finalists of The Miss World competition at Warsaw's Palace of Culture. From left are Miss Jamaica, Sara Lawrence; Miss Romania, Ioana Valentina Boitor; Miss World; Miss Australia, Sabrina Houssami; Miss Angola, Stiviandra Oliveira; and Miss Brazil, Jane Sousa Borges Oliveira.

Miss Czech Republic, Tatana Kucharova, waves after being crowned Miss World 2006 in the Congress Hall in Palace of Culture in Warsaw Sept. 30, 2006. The blonde, sports-loving beauty won the title for the Czech Republic for the first time ever.

Newly crowned Miss World 2006, Tatana Kucharova of the Czech Republic, smiles during a press conference in Warsaw Oct. 1, 2006.