Jamaican wins Miss World title, says will work for sustainable change

Miss World 2019 Toni Ann Singh of Jamaica celebrates winning the Miss World final in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) - Jamaica's Toni-Ann Singh was crowned as Miss World 2019 on Saturday and said she wanted to use her title to work for "sustainable change" for women and their children.

Asked about the value of beauty contests in today's world of MeToo# and the drive for equality and respect for women, the 23-year-old graduate of Florida State University said beauty for her was the least important aspect of her achievement.

"I want to make a change that's sustainable. So if we're talking women... it needs to be something that will make sure that their children and their children's children have a different value of life," an overjoyed Singh told reporters after winning the title in London.

Miss World 2018 Vanessa Ponce de Leon of Mexico puts a crown on the head of Toni Ann Singh of Jamaica celebrating winning the Miss World title in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Singh did not specify what kind of change she had in mind.

"It's OK to celebrate things like beauty and attributes like strength and those things. But this is so much more," she said as she hugged her proud parents, Jahrine and Bradshaw.

Describing herself as a "changed woman" after the experience of taking part in the Miss World competition, Singh added: "There's no way I could chalk it up to just being about beauty, because that's the last on the list, honestly."

Miss World 2019 Toni Ann Singh of Jamaica celebrates winning the Miss World final in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Singh, who sang a version of the late singer Whitney Houston's "I have nothing" in the competition, received her crown from last year's winner, Vanessa Ponce of Mexico.

Jamaicans attending the event hailed Singh's win as a triumph also for their Caribbean island nation.

"The fact that Miss World is won by a black person is very, very significant to us because it represents a lot in terms of our culture, in terms of how far the world has moved on," said audience member Christine McDermott, who lives in London.

Miss World 2019 Toni Ann Singh of Jamaica celebrates winning the Miss World final in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

(Reporting by Sarah Mills and Reuters TV; Editing by Gareth Jones)

Miss World 2019 Toni Ann Singh of Jamaica poses as she celebrates winning the Miss World final in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Singer Lulu performs next to Toni Ann Singh of Jamaica celebrating winning the Miss World title in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Toni Ann Singh of Jamaica celebrates winning next to Miss World 2018 Vanessa Ponce de Leon of Mexico during the Miss World final in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Toni Ann Singh of Jamaica celebrates after winning the Miss World title in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Toni Ann Singh of Jamaica, Ophely Mezino of France and Luong Thuy Linh of Vietnam react on stage during the Miss World final in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Musicians are seen ahead of announcing the winner of the Miss World final in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Contestants perform on stage during the Miss World final in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Contestants perform on stage during the Miss World final in London, Britain December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls