Prague, July 17 (CTK) – Janie Erasmus from South Africa won the title Miss Deaf World 2016 and French Kevin Petit became Mister Deaf World 2016 in the 16th beauty contest final held in Prague on Saturday night.
Senegalese Aminace Gak and Canadian Victoria Soo Lum finished second and third.
An international jury assessed 60 young women and men from 41 countries of the whole world in the final of Miss & Mister Deaf World & Europe & Asia 2016.
The title Miss Deaf Europe 2016 went to a Ukrainian woman, while a South Korean became Miss Deaf Asia. The jury also chose a Spaniard as Mister Deaf Europe 2016 and a Chinese man won the title Mister Deaf Asia.
The contestants first appeared in folk costumes of their countries. A free discipline followed in which women mostly danced and men performed in sport outfits. A traditional promenade in swimwear and evening gowns and suits was also part of the competition.
Its president Josef Uhlir told CTK that it was very difficult to train choreography with the contestants. They actually react to the play of light in harmony with music, he added.
The first Miss Deaf World competition took place in Mallorca. From 2002 until 2010, it was held in Prague, once in Georgia and since 2011 in Prague again.
The organisers say the contest also aims at integrating the young with impaired hearing into society.
