Winner of Miss World 2018 is Vanessa Ponce de Leon, from Mexico: See the contest photos

Vanessa Ponce de Leon made history on Saturday to become the first Miss Mexico to be crowned Miss World.

The 2018 contest took place at the Sanya City Arena in Sanya, China. The 26-year-old won another 117 contenders, including runner-up Miss Thailand Nicolene LimsnukanMiss Uganda Quiin Abenakyo, who were in third place, and other finalists from Belarus, France, Scotland, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Mauritius, Uganda, Nepal, New Zealand and Thailand.

"I can not believe I really can not believe it," said newly crowned Miss World 2018 backstage. "And I think all the girls deserved it, I'm proud to represent them all, I'll do my best for as long as I can.

The new Miss World graduated in International Business and worked as a model and TV presenter. She is also involved in charity work, and serves on the board of a rehabilitation center for girls and volunteers for Migrantes en el Camino and is also a speaker at the National Youth Institute.

See photos of her and other contestants in the contest:

The Miss World Contest was created in Great Britain in 1951 and is the oldest international beauty contest.