MISS World is coming to Nelson Mandela Bay later this month when 120 of the world’s most glamorous women descend on the city.

In a first for the Friendly City, it will host the “Miss World Sport” title leg prior to the pageant being staged in Johannesburg next month.

Eastern Cape Tourism Board trade relations co-ordinator Susan Wilson said the organisation had paid R1,5-million for the licensing of the event to host the Miss World candidates in the city.

Now in its 59th year, the pageant is the world’s biggest annual television event, with a global audience of more than a billion viewers.

The live two-hour broadcast of the December 12 pageant at Gallagher Estate, Midrand, begins at 5pm on SABC 3.

The venue for the Miss World Sport leg on November 17 and 18 in the Bay still needs to be confirmed. During this leg of the pageant, the women can score points to help them secure a place either in the semi- or quarter-finals.

Wilson said the contestants and their managers would arrive on November 16 and depart on November 19 . They were “waiting to see which establishments are available for accommodation”.

The event programme “will only be finalised next week”.

Wilson said the public would not be allowed access. “Security will be tight.”

She said bringing the sport leg of the event to the city would be “great exposure for us”.

“There will be four overseas television companies following the event. This means we are guaranteed to be screened overseas to 250 countries during the final.”

Johannesburg will host the main event for the second year running.

The 120 participants, each representing her respective country, will arrive in Johannesburg next Saturday for a month of preparations prior to the glitzy pageant.

Before leaving for London on Thursday, Miss SA 2008 Tatum Keshwar said she was proud South Africa would host the Miss World pageant.

“It is important the contestants get to experience our country,” Keshwar said.

“Hosting the pageant here will also create extra interest in tourism.”

Keshwar, who has visited Port Elizabeth on a number of occasions, said it was always great to visit the city.

“The lifestyle in PE is a lot like Durban where I am from,” she added. “The people are very hospitable (in PE).”

Keshwar, who is excited about the upcoming pageant, said she had gained great experience during the Miss Universe competition in the Bahamas earlier this year where she was placed in the final top 10. “It gave me a realistic expectation for the Miss World event,” she said.