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CNN Live Saturday

21-Year-Old Turkish Model Crowned Miss World

Aired December 07, 2002 - 16:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Our planet has a new Miss World. A 21-year-old model and dancer from Turkey received the crown today in London. The contest was originally scheduled to take place in Nigeria but after a wave of religious violence that hit the country last month it was moved to the British capital.
Richard Quest has more now from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The organizers said, "The show must go on" and literally moved it around the world to make it happen.

This was the reason the contest was shifted -- rioting in Nigeria between Muslims and Christians over a newspaper article -- violence that left nearly 200 people dead.

Within days it was clear Nigeria could no longer host the show and it was moved to London. On the night itself there was only the briefest of mentions about the incidents in Africa.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately elsewhere in Nigeria there were devastating consequences brought about by the provocative words published in a newspaper. Our thoughts go out to the families who have suffered and we hope that Nigeria recovers quickly.

QUEST: If the organizers were caught in the crisis, to the very end they denied they were to blame.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We weren't even there when that riot happened. We weren't near the place, we never went near the place where the riots were. So I can't see how it can be our responsibility.

QUEST: In all only a couple of Miss World contestants dropped out in protest. The rest held the party line. But canceling the event was unthinkable as Miss World did so much good.

This year's winner ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Miss Turkey.

QUEST: ... was no different.

AZRA AKIN, MISS WORLD 2002: I think that event that happened -- it's very sad. I was very, very sad about it. It happens all in the world. But I don't think we had -- the organization had nothing to do with it. It's just something that happens with that -- when people don't show respect.

QUEST: Even for a competition that's used to controversy, this year's event has put Miss World into a new league. The organizers said they couldn't have forecasted what took place.

At the end of the day, though, there are still many people who believe Miss World 2002 should not have taken place.

Richard Quest, CNN, at the Miss World pageant in London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 7, 2002 - 16:57   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Our planet has a new Miss World. A 21-year-old model and dancer from Turkey received the crown today in London. The contest was originally scheduled to take place in Nigeria but after a wave of religious violence that hit the country last month it was moved to the British capital.
Richard Quest has more now from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The organizers said, "The show must go on" and literally moved it around the world to make it happen.

This was the reason the contest was shifted -- rioting in Nigeria between Muslims and Christians over a newspaper article -- violence that left nearly 200 people dead.

Within days it was clear Nigeria could no longer host the show and it was moved to London. On the night itself there was only the briefest of mentions about the incidents in Africa.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately elsewhere in Nigeria there were devastating consequences brought about by the provocative words published in a newspaper. Our thoughts go out to the families who have suffered and we hope that Nigeria recovers quickly.

QUEST: If the organizers were caught in the crisis, to the very end they denied they were to blame.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We weren't even there when that riot happened. We weren't near the place, we never went near the place where the riots were. So I can't see how it can be our responsibility.

QUEST: In all only a couple of Miss World contestants dropped out in protest. The rest held the party line. But canceling the event was unthinkable as Miss World did so much good.

This year's winner ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Miss Turkey.

QUEST: ... was no different.

AZRA AKIN, MISS WORLD 2002: I think that event that happened -- it's very sad. I was very, very sad about it. It happens all in the world. But I don't think we had -- the organization had nothing to do with it. It's just something that happens with that -- when people don't show respect.

QUEST: Even for a competition that's used to controversy, this year's event has put Miss World into a new league. The organizers said they couldn't have forecasted what took place.

At the end of the day, though, there are still many people who believe Miss World 2002 should not have taken place.

Richard Quest, CNN, at the Miss World pageant in London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com