December 25, 2006/ San Diego, CA.--The Worldwide Pageant announces 2006 Miss Worldwide, Annastasia Anderson relinquishes title.

Miss Worldwide 2006, Annastasia Anderson, has stepped down, relinquishing her title as Miss Worldwide. Worldwide Pageant™ Executive Director and owner of Phoenix Pyre Productions, Dr. Effie Horning LPT, RN, DSH, states "Miss Anderson was unable to fulfill her contract with our organization. We wish her well in her future endeavors." Ms. Horning continues, "(as for whom will be named as her successor) we will release that information when it is appropriate."

This stunning announcement comes on the heels of Miss USA barely hanging onto her coveted Mikimoto crown. Ms. Horning would not compare the two cases except to say, "Miss Anderson has had many opportunities to fulfill her obligations and address the concerns raised. She has chosen not to do so."

Worldwide Pageant ™ is not your traditional "beauty pageant." Dedicated to the philosophy that everyone has his or her own sense of style and beauty, Worldwide™ is a "personal style" and "achievement" competition. "We truly want to see our contestants’ unique and special qualities shine!" states Dr. Horning.

The similarly named Worldwide™ Foundation is an international philanthropic organization dedicated to serving the world community. Worldwide™ is a federally recognized 501(c)(3), welcoming anyone who shares a desire to better the world community. Worldwide™ is a designated National Leadership Organization® through the Points of Light Foundation® and the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards®. Worldwide hosts Service Excellence™, Spirit of Excellence™ and Spirit of H.O.P.E.™ (Helping Other People is Empowering) Awards. Open to the public, these awards recognize those who give of themselves serving the world community.

Known as "the crowns for the cure," the program has special, trademarked pink ribbon design in the title-holders’ crowns. Although the mission of Worldwide™ is to "cure the stigma, fear and disease of breast cancer," its good works benefit many other projects and organizations. Worldwide™ further serves to better the community by providing fulfillment to the individual title-holders and contestants. Additionally, members are encouraged in their individual projects with Worldwide™ serving to facilitate in them a passion and means of fulfilling those dreams.

Other Pageants in the "crowns for the cure" include La Reina de Esperanza®/ The Queen of Hope®, Ms. Classic Beauty™, Cosmo Ms™, Ms. Metropolitan™, Worldwide Supermodel™ and Ms. World™. These competitions were founded by Dr. Horning, acting as a means to provide fulfillment opportunities to the delegates. Additionally, the rights to the popular Radiance World® Pageant were bought from the owner of the registered trademark. Radiance World® is now the teal crown for the cure benefiting ovarian and cervical cancers.