Sunday

Another Year Closer to the Crown

India has quite a history in the Miss World beauty pageant. It’s one of the most renowned and extravagant beauty pageants to date, celebrating the many ethnic backgrounds of women across the world.

On December 13th, 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa, one of India’s most beautiful women came incredibly close to winning the Miss World title at the Miss World 2008 beauty pageant. Parvathy Omanakuttan would have been the sixth Indian woman to be crowned. She came just as close when she was crowned First Runner Up at the Miss World Grand Finale — and that’s certainly as good to us Indians.

Ms. Omanakuttan is a 21 year-old graduate in Arts and she is originally from Changanacherry –Kottayam, Kerala — a state located in Southern India. She is like many other 21 year olds who also like to dance, listen to music, read, paint and even play sports. Modeling seems to be a significant passion for her. On April 5th, 2008 in Mumbai, Ms. Omanakuttan was crowned “Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2008,” and was the second runner up of Miss World Top Model on December 3rd. The list actually goes on and I know her fellow Malayalis couldn’t be more pleased!

Not many of us know that the first Indian Miss World was crowned in 1966 — only 5 years after this pageant was first founded in 1961! That title went to Reita Faria.  India made its come-back in the pageant in 1994 when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was crowned Miss World. Mrs. Bachchan has gained such esteem and admiration, not only in India, but all over the world — and she probably has the Miss World contest to thank for! Diana Hayden, who is of Anglo-Indian descent, took the Miss World title in 1997. In 1999, Yukta Mookhey took the crown and the following year, Priyanka Chopra, a now well-known Bollywood actress. India makes such a significant impact on the world and to have a woman be one face for India in the Miss World competition is an honor.

This year’s Miss World went to Ksenya Sukhinova from Russia. Congratulations!!

The crown is a symbol of fundraising and charity is one of the most important concentrations in the pageant. Ksenya Sukhinova of Russia surpassed 108otherinternational contestants to take this exceptional title. She is the second Russian to win Miss World. Ms. Sukhinova, also 21 years old, is a student at the Tyumen Oil and Gas University pursuing a degree in engineering. She is enthusiastic about helping people and made that evident when asked why she should be crowned. Ms. Sukhinova responded, “I think I can help people and I want to help people and today if I walk away with this crown I will do that.” The contestants in this pageant exhibit their outer, as well as their inner beauty. It takes hard work, dedication and passion to take part in an event that is aimed at making a difference in the world.

Bravura would like to congratulate Miss World, Ksenya Sukhinova and wish her the best! We would also like to commend Ms. Parvathy Omanakuttan and we’re certainly looking forward to the next Indian Miss World! Hmm…I think Deepika Padukone could take the next title! =x