Reigning Miss World Toni-Ann Singh will hold the crown well into the new year as organisers of the pageant’s 70th grand coronation show in Puerto Rico was called off due to an outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) among contestants. 

Mere hours from crowning a new queen, the decision to postpone the event was announced on Thursday (December 16). The grand final will instead be held at the Puerto Rico Coliseum Jose Miguel Agrelot “within the next 90 days”.

According to a CNN report, some 23 of the 97 registered contestants contracted COVID-19 in Puerto Rico. 

Co-franchise holder of Miss Jamaica World, Dahlia Harris confirmed on Twitter, however, that 2021 winner Khalia Hall is safe and set to return home. 

“Our Queen is Covid-19 free and on her way home. So thankful that she is safe and hope for a speedy recovery for the contestants who are not as fortunate,” Harris tweeted.

Despite safety measures being in place, the impact of the coronavirus was immediately felt, with additional cases emerging from the contestants themselves. 

After more Miss World participants returned COVID-positive tests, the decision was made to shelve the popular pageant.

For her part, Miss World Limited CEO, Julia Morley, expressed confidence that Puerto Rico would once again put on a spectacular festival. 

See statement in full below: 

“After meeting with the virologists and medical experts hired to oversee the Miss World 2021 event and discussing with the Puerto Rico Health Department, the decision has been made by the organisers of the event to postpone the globally broadcast finale at the Puerto Rico Coliseum Jose Miguel Agrelot to be held within the next 90 days.

As of yesterday, additional safety measures were implemented in the best interest of the contestants, production team and spectators, understanding the event increased risks on the stage and in the dressing room. 

However, after additional positive cases were confirmed this morning after consulting with health officials and experts, the postponement decision was made.

The next step according to the medical experts is immediate quarantine, pending observation and further testing according to best practices in situations like this.

Once and only when contestants and staff are cleared by health officials and advisors, will contestants and related staff return to their home countries.

“We are very much looking forward to the return of our contestants, (who we have grown to know and love), to compete for the Miss World crown” said Julia Morley, CEO of Miss World Ltd. Puerto Rico offers a safe environment and a spectacular backdrop for filming the Miss World Festival!”

Toni-Ann Singh, who won the crown in 2019 will again resume her record-breaking hold on the Miss World title, as the 2020 pageant was cancelled due to the ravages of the pandemic.