Miss World contestants have been bringing a real touch of glamour to Perthshire.
The 122 contestants braved Monday’s rainy weather near Crieff Hydro Hotel’s Culcrieff golf course to take part in a mini Highland games, led by Miss Scotland Jennifer Reoch.
The beauties arrived at the hotel on Sunday as part of a short trip to Scotland which include getting golf lessons today at Gleneagles Hotel, visiting Stirling Castle and also taking in the firing of the one o’ clock gun at Edinburgh Castle.
The tour culminates in the 2011 Miss World final, which will be held on Sunday November 6 at Earl’s Court, London.
Crieff Hydro offered the girls the use of its leisure services during their stay. The girls took part in tossing the caber, a farmer’s dash and swimming gala.
Split randomly into four teams orange, blue, green and red Miss Scotland gave her team advice on how to toss the caber with the hills above Crieff Hydro echoing to the whooping from the girls enjoying the events.
”I told my team that you have to flip the caber up and above,” she said. ”This is great the scenery at Crieff Hydro is absolutely stunning. It’s great to show off Scotland to the girls.
”The Crieff Hydro staff really pulled out all the stops for the girls when we arrived. We got the red carpet treatment from the word go and had a bagpiper wearing full tartan regalia piping us in.”
John Jennett, managing director of Crieff Hydro, said: ”It’s an honour to host this event and an exciting opportunity to showcase Scotland on the world stage.”
Julia Morley, chief executive of the Miss World Organisation, added: ”The Miss World participants were looking forward to coming to Scotland to visit some of its historic sites and experience the famous Scottish traditions.”
The UK tour celebrates Miss World’s 60th birthday. The final will bring together contestants from 122 countries, celebrity judges, former Miss Worlds and entertainers. The show will be broadcast to a global audience of more than one billion.
Behind Miss World’s glamorous aspect, there has always been a charitable angle to the event which has raised money for worldwide causes through ‘Beauty with a Purpose’, set up 40 years ago by Mrs Morley and run by Miss World participants.
This year, over half of the Miss World participants are in full-time education studying for a degree. One in four are already graduates and over half speak three or more languages.
Former Miss World contestants have gone on to a variety of successful careers such as lawyers, doctors, teachers, fundraisers and actors, including Halle Berry and Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman).
Miss World also has a unique relationship with the James Bond franchise with 12 of the women going on to appear in the Bond films.