Miss International 2012 Ikumi Yoshimatsu of Japan (center) is flanked by 2nd Runner-Up Madusha Mayadunne of Sri Lanka (left) and 1st Runner-Up Viivi Suominen of Finland.

Last year's Maria Fernanda Cornejo with brand-new winner Ikumi Yoshimatsu.

It took a little over five hours for the Board of Judges to make a final decision, but the patiently-waiting crowds at the Okinawa Prefectural Budokan in Onoyama Park (plus the tens of thousands watching the live stream) rejoiced (well, not all) with the selection of Miss International 2012 in the person of IKUMI YOSHIMATSU of host country Japan, who bested 68 other lovely candidates and became the first Japanese to win the title after many decades of hosting and participating in the same. She now succeeds last year’s winner, Maria Fernanda Cornejo. Coming close to winning the Mikimoto crown are 1st Runner-Up Viivi Suominen of Finland, 2nd Runner-Up Madusha Mayadunne of Sri Lanka, 3rd Runner-Up Melody Mir Jimenez of Dominican Republic and 4th Runner-Up Nicole Huber of Paraguay. Making up the rest of the Top 15 Finalists are Melissa Varon of Colombia, Rafaella Butarelli of Brazil, Paulina Malulu of Namibia, Bianca Aljibes of Venezuela, Alize Mounter of United Kingdom, Amanda Renee Delgado of USA, Nicole Schmitz of the Philippines, Jessica Garcia Formenti of Mexico, Rochelle Maria Rao of India and Anedie Azael of Haiti.

Special Awards went to the following ladies:
Miss Friendship – Ameeksha Dilchand of Mauritius
Miss Talent – Ekaterina Meglinskaya of Russia
Best National Costume – Nicole Velasquez of Honduras
Miss Internet – Nang Khin Zay Yar of Myanmar
Miss Photogenic – Ikumi Yoshimatsu of Japan
Miss JOICFP Award – Anedie Azael of Haiti

Ikumi Toshimatsu enjoying her first press exposure as Miss International 2012.

Congratulations to all the winners, most especially to Ikumi! 🙂

(Images courtesy of Miss International website)