Miss World 1981, the 31st edition of the

Miss World Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Miss Int ...

pageant, was held on 12 November 1981 at the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

in London, UK. The winner was

Pilín León Pilín León (born Carmen Josefina León Crespo, May 19, 1963) is a Venezuelan writer and beauty queen who won the Miss World Venezuela 1981 crown and later Miss World pageant in 1981, held in London, United Kingdom, representing Venezuela. Le� ...

from Venezuela, the first titleholder from her country since

1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...

. She was crowned by Miss World 1980,

Kimberley Santos Kimberley Santos (born August 21, 1961) is a Guamanian beauty queen who became Miss World 1980 (representing Guam) after Germany's Gabriella Brum resigned the day after her victory. The pageant was held in London, United Kingdom. After living ...

Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...

. Another Venezuelan,

Irene Sáez Irene Lailin Sáez Conde (born 13 December 1961 in Chacao, Miranda, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan politician and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1981. She has been a model, was the mayor of Chacao (a municipality of Caracas), Governor o ...

, had been crowned

Miss Universe 1981 Miss Universe 1981, the 30th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant, was held on 20 July 1981 at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City, United States. Irene Sáez of Venezuela was crowned by Shawn Weatherly of the United States. There were 77 c ...

in July, making Venezuela one of the few countries to hold both major international titles (

Miss Universe Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stre ...

and

) in the same year. The Continental Queens of Beauty were awarded for the first time.

Results

Placements

Continental Queens of Beauty

Contestants

Notes

Returns

*Last competed in

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

: ** *Last competed in

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

: ** ** ** **

Withdrawals

* * * * – Paula Dos Santos who had a dual citizenship, won the Miss Portugal contest held in Johannesburg, South Africa. She flew to London, only to be told by Eric Morley that any girl from South Africa cannot participate, and that the contest has to be held in the country of the girl's origin.

References

External links

{{Miss World Miss World 1981 in London 1981 beauty pageants Beauty pageants in the United Kingdom Events at the Royal Albert Hall November 1981 events in the United Kingdom