With the Miss World beauty pageant to take place in China this Saturday, betting is in full swing. Among the hot favorites to win the glamour extravaganza are stunners from China and Mexico.

´With 120 contestants in the running this year, passions run pretty high. Since 1951 the event has been considered one of the most prestigious, and therefore, profitable for betting.

Hispanic beauties are regarded as a `safe bet`. Latin American senoritas have won recognition across the world, with beauties from Venezuela holding the record of being crowned Miss World six times.

Last year`s winner - Venezuela`s Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares - will pass on her duties, as well as the coveted tiara, to the new `flavor of the month` to be chosen on August 18.

It could be 20-year-old Mariana Berumen Reynoso, the favorite from Mexico, who describes herself as being a "very committed, polite, punctual and competitive person."

Her adversary from China, another major preference for betting, is 23-year-old Wenxia YU who modestly says she would like to become a music teacher.

Although Russian ladies are known for their charms, the country`s hopeful for the Miss World title, Elizaveta Golovanova, isn`t among the front runners to win the pageant.

The 19-year-old brunette describes herself as being persistent though, and is currently studying law at a university in the city of Smolensk.

Russia last celebrated victory at Miss World in 2008, with the blond bombshellKsenia Sukhinova crowned the lucky winner.
sections: Culture