Miss World in Johannesburg - the official announcement

Having disclosed on "Living in Jozi" a full two weeks ago that the Miss World pageant was to be moved and held in Johannesburg, rather than the original host city of Kiev, the official announcement was made on the 9th September by Julia Morley, chairperson of Miss World Limited. And it appears the news media have now picked this story up too.

This will not be the first time the event is hosted in South Africa. It has been held at Sun City on no fewer than 5 previous occasions. however, it will be the first time that Johannesburg hosts the event, and forms part of the mandate of the Johannesburg Tourist Company to attract major world events to the City.

Indeed, the JTC, under leadership of its CEO Lindiwe Mahlangu, has seemingly done a remarkable job to not only prepare an outstanding bid package, but also to fend off rival bids that included England and China.

The event will be broadcast to an estimated 2-billion people (or put another way, 1 in 3 people on the planet!) in over 200 countries. It will feature 115 of the world's most beautiful women, who will spend from the 18th November in the country preparing for the event held on 13th December at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Not only is the hosting of this event a coup for the JTC and the City itself, but Julia Morley also announced that South African designers would be used to dress the contestants - clearly a boost for the South African fashion industry.

The current Miss South Africa is 23 year old Tansey Coetzee who won the title last December. She has the fantastic opportunity now to not only represent her country in front of her home country, but indeed in her very own home city of Johannesburg.

This is a fantastic opportunity both for Johannesburg and for South Africa to silence some of the sceptics who are voicing trepidation over the hosting of the 2010 World Cup in this country.