JOHANNESBURG?Beauty queens from around the globe vying for the Miss World title prepare for a night of glitz and suspense, amid claims of religious cult links by one of the contestants.

"There is a an air of excitement among the contestants as former Miss Worlds and VIP guests start to arrive," the Miss World company said in a statement.

This year's event has been tainted by a scandalous media report, linking Miss Indonesia, Kerenina Sunny Halim to an American religious cult.

According to a report by the Mail and Guardian, Halim belongs to The Family International, a church group which has been mired in child and sexual abuse claims.

"We have given instructions to our South African attorneys to institute legal proceedings on an urgent basis to protect our company and all contestants," the company said in a statement.

"The Mail and Guardian has besmirched the reputation of a young woman without any justification for doing so," said the company.

The company sought in vain to have the article removed from the web and have a retraction issued.

But the organizers are determined not to let the scandal affect the final show set for 1500 GMT.

Reigning Miss World Ksenia Sukhinova from Russia will hand over the crown at a glittering ceremony in Midrand, north of Johannesburg.

"The format of this year's show is being kept top secret, before being aired live to viewers across the world tonight," the company said.

Held in Johannesburg for a second consecutive year, the extravaganza will be hosted by China's leading television presenter Angela Chow, South African former beauty queen Michelle McLean, and Miss World official Steve Douglas.

The contestants from Barbados, Guatamala and India were Friday night announced as finalists for the special beauty with a purpose title.

The title pays recognition to beauty queens who have made a difference in people's lives, through charitable works in their home countries.

The winner will be announced during the main event.

"Charity work is integral to the Miss World ethos and part of the brief to contenders in each country is that they volunteer their time or fundraise for charity," said pageant owner Julia Morley.

The contestants arrived in the country on November 14 to start a journey packed with safaris and visits to the country' top tourism sites.

In 1951, Sweden?s Kiki Hakansson became the first Miss World, Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry represented the America in 1986 and became a runner-up.

Venezuela and India have produced the most Miss Worlds, with 5 title holders each.

The city of Johannesburg has been lambasted for spending 90 million rand (12 million dollars) to host the event, as the council is battling to meet basic service demands by the poor.

The 2010 final will be held in Vietnam.