Miss World 2012, Yu Wenxia crowns Megan Young of the Philippines as the new Miss World during the grand finale of the Miss World 2013 beauty pageant held at Bali Nusa Dua in Bali, Indonesia, on Saturday, September 28. "No words! Thank you so much for everyone for choosing me," said Young. "I promise to be the best Miss World ever." Miss France Marine Lorphelin, left, took second and Miss Ghana Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, took third.
(CNN) -- A new Miss World was crowned Saturday, and though she competed as Miss Philippines, she hails from the United States.
Megan Young, 23, an aspiring filmmaker, took the top honor at the competition, held in Bali, Indonesia.
"No words! Thank you so much for everyone for choosing me. I promise to be the best Miss World ever," Young said.
Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, and Miss Ghana, Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, were second and third runners up, respectively.
The top 10 Miss World contestants pose during the modeling event at the convention center in Indonesia's resort island of Bali on September 24.The Miss World finals were held Saturday, September 28, after weeks of protests from Muslim hardliners.
Miss world sparks controversy
Young was born in the United States and moved to the Philippines at age 10, according to her biography.
The new Miss World is a college student who has appeared on screen as an actress and presenter since she was 15.
Young wants to move behind the camera and become a director, according to her bio.
Miss World's 127 contestants competed in beach fashion, fitness, world fashion, talent and "Beauty with a Purpose" meant to honor charitable work. The top 10 models -- from Ukraine, South Sudan, Brazil, the Philippines, France, Cameroon, Cyprus, England, Italy and the United States -- were announced earlier this week.
Protesters in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, denounced the event.
In an attempt to appease religious concerns, the pageant scrapped the swimsuit competition and replaced it with less-revealing beachwear attire.
Also, the finals were originally to be held on the outskirts of Jakarta, but protesters forced the event to relocate to the Hindu resort island of Bali.
CNN's Neda Farshbaf, Mary Primiano, Kathy Quiano and Madison Park contributed to this report.
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From left to right, Miss Gibraltar, Maroua Kharbouch; Miss Spain, Elena Ibarbian Jimenez; Miss Brazil, Sancler Frantz Konzen; Miss Ghana, Carranza Naa Okailey Shooter; Miss Philippines, Megan Young; and Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, were the final five contestants of the Miss World 2013 pageant. The 127 contestants competed in beach fashion, fitness, world fashion, talent and "Beauty with a Purpose" meant to honor charitable work.
Miss Spain Elena, Ibarbian Jimenez, 18, is entering her second year of college. She hopes to one day she will become either a dancer or an actress, 
Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, 20, is currently a second-year medical student with plans to become a pediatrician or obstetrician. She dreams of traveling the world to help people,
Miss Ghana, Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, 22, is a medical student who hopes to become a pediatrician. She brings medical care to rural areas of Ghana in quarterly outreach programs, 
Miss Brazil, Sancler Frantz Konzen, 22, works as a statewide television presenter. Her personal motto is "Beauty may open doors, but beauty with a purpose opens hearts and minds," 
Miss Spain, Elena Ibarbian Jimenez, 18, is entering her second year of college. She hopes one day to become either a dancer or an actress, 
Miss Gibraltar, Maroua Kharbouch, 22, currently works as a client relationship manager. As an animal lover, she enjoys devoting her time at a local cat shelter, 
Miss World 2013 contestants clap during a fashion show in Bali on September 24. The Miss World finals originally to be hosted in the capital, Jakarta was forced to move to the Hindu-majority island of Bali after weeks of protests by Muslim hardliners.
Miss Italy, Sarah Baderna plants a tree during a visit by the Miss World contestants to the Kertalangu Cultural Village in Denpasar on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on September 21.
Miss World 2012 Wenxia Yu of China (left) and Miss Indonesia Vania Larissa (right) prepare to hit the World Peace Gong as Miss World contestants visit Kertalangu Cultural Village in Denpasar on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on September 21.
Muslim women stage a protest against the Miss World contest in Banda Aceh, northern Sumatra island, on September 14.
Female Muslim protesters shout slogans during a protest against the Miss World beauty pageant contest outside its main sponsor office, MNCTV in Jakarta on September 5. Around 1,000 Islamic hardliners protested saying the event promoted "smut and pornography."
Anti-Miss World demonstrators from Indonesia's conservative Islamic organization Hizb ut Tahrir present their version of Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss Indonesia wearing long dresses and head scarves fully covering the body during a rally in Medan city on September 5.
Members of the conservative Islamic group, the Islamic Defenders Front held signs reading "Tolak (Reject) Miss World" and "Miss World is Whore Contest" in protest against the competition on September 3 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Protesters burn a banner featuring Miss World 2012 Yu Wenxia from China reading "Reject Miss World" during a protest in Jakarta on September 3.
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