Miss World cheers on South Africa at ITB
The travel industry showed off its glamourous side when reigning Miss World visited ITB Berlin 2010 today, bringing the ICC to a virtual standstill as she breezed elegantly through the exhibition halls.
The Gibraltarian stunner, who won the world’s most prestigious beauty contest in December in Johannesburg, dropped by the South Africa Tourism stand to catch up with friends, pose for photos with fans, as well as also give the nation a final cheer ahead of FIFA 2010.
(Above: Charles Ndabeni, CEO Mpumalanga & Minister of Arts Lulu Xingwana with Miss World)
Miss Aldorino worked as an administrator before winning the world’s longest running beauty pageant. Now she is travelling the world in an effort to raise money for Miss World’s “Beauty with a Purpose” campaign.
The 22-year-old told Breaking Travel News: “I’m so happy to be in Berlin to see all my friends from South Africa. I can’t believe the World Cup starts in just 90 days. I’ll be heading down to Johannesburg to cheer on the teams.”
(Left: Miss World & FIFA 2010 mascot)
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This year’s show has been sold out since February with 11,127 exhibiting companies, up from 11,098 in 2009, with 187 participating countries.
Day two also witnessed a healthy turn-out of tourism ministers – over 120 from around the world.
The biggest ministerial smile of the day belonged to the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism for Jamaica, who was in jubilant mood following local superstar Usain Bolt being named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the second year running.
(Left: Graham Wood, Managing Director, Southern Sun and Neil Fraser, Director of Sales, with Miss World)
Jamaica’s “golden son” collected the award at a star-studded ceremony hosted by Hollywood superstar Kevin Spacey at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace.
(Right: Serge Smard and Manuela Pallamar, Zimbali Lodge, South Africa)
Minister Bartlett was also in high spirits as his nation’s tourism industry going from strength to strength, with growth of 6 percent expected in 2010 to build on the 3 percent rise in 2009.