Philippines celebrates its first Miss World winner....Miss. Megan Young

The Philippines – where beauty contests are a serious affair – celebrated its first victory in the Miss World contest, despite hardline Islamic protests against the event in the host country Indonesia. (Reuters) 

"Over the course of the competition, Ms Young displayed to the world the beauty, the grace, and the compassionate spirit of the Filipina and has become a source of great pride and inspiration for the Filipino people," his statement said. (AP) 

The triumph of 23-year-old Megan Young was the main headline in major newspapers, who noted that it finally gave the Philippines a winner in all major beauty pageants after several victories in the Miss Universe and Miss International contest

s. (AP)

"May her triumph remind all Filipinos of what we are capable of," he added. "Finally, the blue-beaded crown for the Philippines," the Manila Bulletin said in its main story. (AP)

"Feeling proud. The beauty of the Pinay (Filipina) has come out on top," said one message on Twitter. "I'm so proud of you Megan. You prove that we're beautiful. I'm proud to be a Filipino," another message read. (Reuters)  

Thousands of protesters had earlier taken to the streets across Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, to denounce the contest. (AP) 

President Benigno Aquino's communications secretary Ramon Carandang congratulated Young in a statement, saying the administration was proud of her achievement. (AP) 

Earlier this month, the national director for the Philippine licensee of Miss World charged that there was a "smear campaign by a negligible sector of the Philippine pageant industry" against Young. (AP)