Rolene Strauss–the 22-year-old 2014 Miss South Africa beauty queen–was crowned Miss World 2014 at the Excel London ICC Auditorium on Sunday, E! News reports.

Prior to her Miss South Africa and Miss World win this year, Strauss was a fourth-year medical student who was forced to put her studies on hold.

"Everyone in my town called me Little Dr. Strauss," Strauss said on stage about her medical career aspirations.

Following her win, Strauss said, "I think I will brace myself for what's about to happen. It's a huge responsibility."

Strauss's Miss World win marks South Africa's third Miss World winner. Strauss' predecessor, the Philippines' Megan Young, made history last year as the first Miss World winner from the Philippines, GMA reports.

"I hope Miss South Africa enjoys her year as much as I did," Young told Strauss following her win. "Be ready for challenges, be ready for anything that comes your way."

Strauss was one among 122 contestants competing for the Miss World title this year.

Throughout the course of the night the contestants were narrowed down to the top 10 competitors, which included Miss Australia's Courtney Thorpe, Miss England's Carina Tyrrell, Miss Guyana's Rafieya Husain, Miss Brazil's Julia Gama, Miss Kenya's Idah Nguma, Miss Mexico's Daniela Alvarez, Miss India's Koya Rana, and the People's Choice winner, Miss Thailand's Nonathawan Thongeleng.

The runners-up for the night were Miss Hungary's Edina Kulcsar and Miss United States's Elizabeth Safrit.

Kulcsar was a former finalist of the 2009 Miss Plastic Hungary beauty pageant that highlights the benefits of cosmetic procedures and features contestants who had plastic surgery.

Safrit, who has a BA in political science from the University of Southern California, previously represented North Carolina at the 2014 Miss United States pageant.

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