The highly anticipated 71st edition of the Miss World pageant is set to take place in India from February 18 to March 9, marking the prestigious international beauty pageant’s return to the country after almost thirty years. Organizers made the announcement on Friday, revealing a series of events and competitions scheduled across various venues in India.
The pageant will kick off with “The Opening Ceremony” and “India Welcomes the World Gala,” hosted by the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) in New Delhi on February 20. The grand finale is scheduled to take place at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on March 9, promising a spectacular event that will be streamed and telecasted globally.
With participants from 120 countries, the pageant will see contestants from around the world vying for the coveted title through a series of competitions and charitable initiatives held at venues including the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The announcement was made during a press conference attended by current Miss World, Karolina Bielawska of Poland, along with former winners Toni Ann Singh (Jamaica), Vanessa Ponce De Leon (Mexico), Manushi Chhillar (India), and Stephanie Del Valle (Puerto Rico).
Expressing her excitement, Julia Morley, chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, stated, “My love for India is no secret, and having the 71st Miss World Festival in this country means a lot to me. A big thank you to Jamil Saidi for his Herculean efforts to make this return to India a reality. We have assembled the very best team for the 71st edition.”
India last hosted the international pageant in 1996, and the upcoming event marks a significant milestone in the country’s history of hosting global events. Manushi Chhillar, the most recent Indian winner of the pageant, claimed the crown in 2017, following in the footsteps of past Indian winners such as Reita Faria Powell, Aishwarya Rai, Diana Hayden, Yukta Mookhey, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
Representing India at the 71st Miss World pageant will be Sini Shetty, a native of Karnataka and Femina Miss India World 2022.
