Miss World Philippines Krishnah Gravidez and Miss World Krystyna Pyskova. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina
For India’s second consecutive hosting of the Miss World pageant, the delegates will explore the southern state of Telangana for the duration of the competition, starting from their arrival on May 6 and 7.
The 72nd Miss World Festival calendar was revealed during the press conference held at the tourism headquarters of Telangana in Hyderabad on Thursday, March 20. State officials welcomed Miss World Organization CEO Julia Morley and reigning queen Krystyna Pyszkova to the occasion.
“This event offers an unparalleled opportunity to showcase our state’s rich cultural heritage, dynamic tourism landscape, and world-class infrastructure,” said Telangana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Excise Jupally Krishna Rao Garu.
About 120 delegates are expected to participate in this year’s edition of the longest-running international pageant, and they will be split into four groups — America and Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Middle East, and Asia and Oceania — to cover as many areas as possible.
All the delegates will attend the opening ceremony at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on May 10, followed by a heritage walk and dinner at the Chowmohalla Palace in the same city on May 12.
The four groups will visit different locations across Telangana for sightseeing, as well as the initial rounds of the fast-track events, or the preliminary competitions where the ladies may gain automatic placements in the quarterfinals.
The ladies will return to the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium for the “Sports” finals on May 17, while the “Talent” finals will be held at the Shilpakala Vedika on May 22, also in Hyderabad.
The final round of the “Head-to-Head Challenge” will be held at the School of Business, still in Telangana’s capital city, on May 23, while the “Top Model and Fashion” finals will take place at the Hyderabad International Convention and Exhibition Center (HTEX) on May 24.
The ladies will return to HITEX on May 25 for jewellery and pearl fashion show. The next day, they will attend a gala dinner at the British Residency at the Taj Falaknuma, the only 7-star hotel in India.
HITEX will once again host the ladies on May 31, for the final competition show of the 72nd Miss World pageant. Pyszkova will relinquish her title to her successor at the end of the ceremonies, which will end early morning on June 1 in Manila.
Morley said, “Telangana, with its breathtaking landscapes, deep-rooted traditions, and modern outlook is the perfect host for this celebration of global unity. We are excited to bring the world to Telangana and create a lasting impact.”
The reigning queen also rallied behind the state’s hosting of the international pageant. “Miss Wolrd is about beauty with a purpose, and Telangana embodies this spirit through its commitment to culture, sustainability, and progress,” Pyszkova said.
So far, the Philippines has one Miss World winner, Megan Young, who won in 2013. Krishnah Gravidez hopes to duplicate her feat in India in May.