New Delhi: Beating contenders from 70 countries, Rachel Gupta became the first Indian to win the Miss Grand International title. A resident of Punjab’s Jalandhar, she also won the Grand Pageants Choice Award. She remains tied with Lara Dutta for being an Indian who has won the most number of global pageant crowns. In the grand finale, her national costume represented the Goddess Ganga. “The shimmering details of the costume reminded us of the glistening waters of Ganga, and the flowing fabrics mirror the movement of the sacred waters themselves,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Congratulations to the winner Rachel Gupta on achieving the crown of dreams! She embodies beauty, elegance, and true talent. May her journey to success shine even brighter with every step she takes,” the organizers wrote on Instagram.
The Miss Grand International 2024 pageant grand finale took place in Bangkok, Thailand on October 25 with a special nod to India.
“We did it! We won the first Golden Crown in Indian history…Thank you so much to everyone who believed in me! I promise, I will not let you down. I vow to be a Queen whose reign you’ll remember forever!” Gupta wrote in a later post.
🚨 Meet 20-year-old Punjab resident, Rachel Gupta who just became the first Indian to win “Miss Grand International”.
Her national costume represented the Goddess Ganga. pic.twitter.com/APCHQjCjZr
— Gems (@gemsofbabus_) October 27, 2024
What was her winning speech?
According to reports, in the question and answer round, Gupta spoke about global poverty and addressed issues around overpopulation. “The most critical issue today is poverty due to overpopulation and limited resources. World leaders need to take responsibility to ensure that resources are enough for everyone by promoting birth control methods globally,” she said, as quoted by the Republic.
Know her past feats
In August, the 20-year-old had secured a place at the international pageant after winning the Miss Grand India title. Her previous victories include the ‘Miss Super Talent of the World’ crown in 2022.
She is also a social media influencer with more than a million followers on Instagram. She will now serve as a global ambassador for Miss Grand International. As the ambassador, she will promote global peace and stability.
According to reports published in 2022, Gupta was pursuing academics and entrepreneurship while working on pageants.
“I understand that a lot of women hesitate in pursuing their dreams. Either due to the baggage that they carry or lack of faith. I hope my journey inspires and encourages them to have aspirations, break the chains and work towards accomplishing their dreams,” she had said after her 2022 win, as quoted by the Mint.
