Czech Kristina Peškova wins the Miss World 2024 title

Mumbai:

Czech Kristina Peškova on Saturday won the Miss World 2024 title at a grand event in Mumbai, which saw Indian contestant Sini Shetty only make it to the top eight.

Miss Lebanon Yasmina Zaytoun was named first runner-up.

Miss World Karolina Bilawska from Poland crowned her successor at a star-studded closing ceremony.

Peškova is the second Miss World from the Czech Republic after the 2006 beauty pageant winner Tatana Kučarova.

According to the official Miss World website, Peshkova is a Czech model pursuing separate degrees in law and business administration.

Peshkova, who is in her 20s, is also the founder of the Kristina Peshko Foundation. Fluent in English, Polish, Slovak and German, the model is an advocate of sustainable development through education.

“Her proudest moment was opening an English school for underprivileged children in Tanzania where she also volunteered. She enjoys playing the transverse flute and violin, and has a passion for music and art having spent nine years at an arts academy,” Peshkova's profile reads. on the site.

India, which hosted the event 28 years later, was represented by 22-year-old Shetty.

Mumbai-born Shetty, who was crowned Miss India World 2022, was edged out by Zeitoun who finished last in the top four in the pageant.

India have won the prestigious title six times – Rita Faria Powell (1966), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mukhi (1999), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (2000), and Manushi Chhillar (2017).

The 71st Miss World Pageant, which saw contestants from 112 countries participate, was held at the Geo World Convention Center in Bangkok.

Part of the jury of 12 judges included film producer Sajid Nadiadwala; Actors Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde; Cricketer Harbhajan Singh; News personality Rajat Sharma, social worker Amruta Fadnavis; and Vineet Jain, Managing Director, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Limited; Julia Morley, President and CEO of the Miss World Organization; Jamil Al Saidi, Strategic Partner and Host – Miss World India, and three former Miss Worlds, including Chhillar.

Filmmaker Karan Johar and former Miss World Megan Young hosted the event, which began with soaring performances by singers Shaan, Neha Kakkar and Tony Kakkar.

The event also played a video message from Chopra Jonas highlighting the importance of “Beauty with a Purpose”, a slogan associated with the Miss World pageant.

Earlier, the cast of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut web series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' – Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmeen Sehgal, and Sanjeeda Sheikh – walked on the stage with 13 speedy beauty queens. The international contestants on the program's new song, “Skull Pan.”

The month-long Miss World pageant kicked off with the 'Opening Ceremony' and 'India Welcomes World Gala' organized by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) in New Delhi on February 20.

It featured a series of rigorous competitions, including talent shows, sporting challenges and charitable initiatives – all aimed at highlighting the qualities that make these competitors ambassadors of change.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)