China's Yu Wenxia has been crowned the 2012 Miss World in the Inner Mongolian city of Ordos.

This is the second time Miss China has been awarded the title. The last time was in 2007 when Zhang Zilin took the honour.

The first runner-up is Sophie Elizabeth Moulds of Wales and the second runner-up is Jessica Michelle Kahawaty of Australia.

The 23-year-old Yu is a music student who says she wants to become a music teacher and work with the poor.

"I love to smile and I like music," Yu said in a video posted on the pageant's website, in which she talks about her study of Chinese folk music.

This is the first time Ordos has hosted the international beauty pageant. The city is one of the richest regions in China thanks to its abundant natural resources. It hopes the world event will raise its profile for economic development and tourism.

Sanya, another Chinese city, has hosted the contest several times.

- AP