The 73rd Miss World pageant has crowned its new queen, and this year the title belongs to Johérie Mola of the Dominican Republic. At the grand finale held in Vietnam, outgoing titleholder Opal Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand placed the crown on Mola's head. India had pinned its hopes on Nikita Porwal, but her run ended before the top 20 stage.
Runners-up and the Top 6
Elizabeth Reines of Spain finished as first runner-up, while Thanusiya Chetty of Malaysia took the second runner-up spot. Each finalist in the top 6 carried a distinct category tag, Snit Habteb of Eritrea was recognised under the People's Choice category, Elizabeth Reines represented the Europe region, Thanusiya Chetty was honoured for Beauty with a Purpose, host nation representative Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc of Vietnam also made the cut, Johérie Mola was picked from the Americas and Caribbean region, and Romanda Hombeer of South Africa secured her place under the Africa category.
India's journey stalls at the top 40
Nikita Porwal did manage to reach the top 40, but her progress stopped short of the top 20 cut. The Miss India Organization shared a post on Instagram recapping her journey through the pageant, noting that it kept alive India's streak of featuring in five consecutive editions of Miss World. Praising her poise and effort, the post read, "India will always be proud of you."
A tribute to Vietnamese culture
Just before the top 20 results were announced, Nikita Porwal created a memorable moment on stage. She walked the ramp in the traditional Vietnamese outfit, the 'Ao Dai', as a mark of respect for the host country's heritage. The Miss India Organization described it as a striking display of cultural unity ahead of the competition's next stage.
Who is Nikita Porwal?
Nikita Porwal hails from Ujjain and is the winner of the 'Femina Miss India World 2024' title. Before stepping into modelling, she worked as a television anchor. She has also been active as an actress, having featured in the Braj-language film 'Chambal Paar', which is set to release in India soon. Ahead of that role, she underwent nearly six years of formal acting training, reflecting the groundwork behind her on-screen presence.
