India’s hopes of winning the coveted Miss World 2024 title came crashing after Miss India Sini Shetty failed to make it to the Top 4 of the beauty pageant, on Saturday last week. Sini Shetty, India’s representation to the 71st Miss World pageant has been ruled out of the race from Top 4. Sini Shetty had participated in the grand finale of Miss World 2024, being held at Jio World Centre in BKC, Mumbai.
Besting 111 of her fellow titleholders from across the globe, Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic was crowned Miss World 2024 on Saturday in Mumbai, India, where the international pageant was held this year.
Pyszková’s victory came over these three runners-up — Yasmina Zeytoun of Lebanon, Aché Abrahams of Trinidad and Tobago and Lesego Chombo of Botswana. These women, along with Jessica Gagen of England, are considered the pageant’s “continental winners.”
Across a series of events during the pageant’s preliminary competition, including fitness, beauty, talent and public speaking, several contestants won “fast track” places in the top 40, a cohort announced at the start of the show.
Shetty was bested by Miss Lebanon who made it to the top 4. The 22-year-old Bharatnatyam dancer represented India at the beauty pageant. She was born and raised in Mumbai.
A 12-member jury — consisting of Miss World 2017 winner Manushi Chhillar, actors Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde, Julia Morley, chairperson and CEO of the Miss World Organization, film producer Sajid Nadiadwala, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, and news personality Rajat Sharma, presided over the Miss World 2024 pageant.
Sini was asked about the role of social media in the empowerment of women across the globe, and it seems like the judges’ panel wasn’t too impressed with her answer.
She said that social media has the power to change the world, adding that it has led to increasing participation of women in different fields. She also said that social media has the power to place the world on a progressive path.
India eventually lost to Yasmina Zaytoun of Lebanon in the Asia and Oceania category. The top four countries still in contention for the title are Trinidad and Tobago, Botswana, the Czech Republic, and Lebanon.
Producer-director Karan Johar is hosting the event along with the winner of Miss World 2013, Megan Young. The event is being held at the Jio Convention Centre in the BKC area here. The mega event is being hosted by India after a gap of 28 years.
Representatives from 112 countries participated at the event, which was held at the Jio World Convention Centre in BKC in Mumbai. It was hosted by Karan Johar and Megan Young, winner of Miss World 2013 pageant.
Manushi Chhillar was the most recent Indian to win the pageant. Earlier, Reita Faria Powell, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Diana Hayden, Yukta Mookhey and Priyanka Chopra Jonas won the competition.
The Miss World pageant returned to India after 28 years. The country last hosted the event in 1996 which saw Irene Skliva of Greece win the title.
At the event, Nita Ambani was conferred the Miss World Humanitarian Award. Nita Ambani was awarded for her work with Reliance Foundation, a non-profit organisation. Julia Morley CBE, the Chairwoman of the Miss World Organization, presented her with the award.
Further Aché Abrahams of Trinidad and Tobago was crowned Miss America and Caribbean at the 71st Miss World pageant.
Meanwhile, Lesego Chombo of Botswana won the Miss World Africa title. Krystyna Pyszková of Czech Republic won the Miss Europe title, and Yasmin Azaytoun of Lebanon won the Miss World Asia and Oceania title.
Miss World is widely viewed as the oldest international beauty pageant, first founded in the United Kingdom in 1951 as a “bikini contest.” Perhaps its two best-known winners are both from India: the actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Miss World 1994) and Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Miss World 2000). Chopra Jonas appeared at the pageant in a video message, paying tribute to both Miss World owner Julia Morley and Nita Ambani, winner of the pageant’s Humanitarian Award.
The finale of the beauty pageant saw Miss World 2023 Karolina Bielawska of Poland crowning her successor.
