Hyderabad: Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri is the new Miss World.
Miss Thailand Chuangsri was crowned by Miss World 2024 Krystyna Pyszkova at the grand finale of the global beauty pageant, held at the HITEX Exhibition Centre here on Saturday evening.
Chuangsri is an international relations student and a model.
Ethiopia’s Hasset Dereje emerged first runner-up and Maja Klajda from Poland won the second runner-up title. Martinique’s Aurlie Joachim was the other contestant to make it to the final four.
A total of 108 women from around the globe participated in the coveted 72nd edition of Miss World. Miss India Nandini Gupta made it to the top 20 before getting eliminated, thus failing to qualify among the top 8, comprising two each from Americas & Caribbean, Africa, Europe and Asia & Oceania.
The two slots from Asia & Oceania went to Miss Thailand and Miss Philippines, with the latter missing out from final 4.
The Miss World finale was hosted by Miss World 2016 Stephanie del Valle, who was dressed in a traditional Indian lehenga, alongside Sachiin Kumbhar, an Indian anchor and radio broadcaster.
The jury was headed by Julia Morley CBE, Chairwoman of Miss World. On the panel of judges were actor Sonu Sood, who received the Miss World Humanitarian Award; Sudha Reddy, the 2025 Global Ambassador for Beauty With a Purpose; Dr Caryna Turrell, Miss England 2014 and a public health physician from University of Cambridge; and Miss World 2024 Krystyna.
Among celebrities present at the event were former Miss World Manushi Chhillar, actor and politician Chiranjeevi, actors Rana Daggubati and Namrata Shirodkar, and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy.
Bollywood actors Jacqueline Fernandez and Ishaan Khatter performed at the event.
This is the second consecutive year that India hosted the Miss World pageant. Last year, the 71st edition was held in Mumbai, where Czech Republic’s Krystyna was crowned Miss World.