Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova on Saturday won the Miss World 2024 title at a grand event in Mumbai. Reigning Miss World Karolina Bielawska from Poland crowned her successor at the star-studded finale here.

Apart from studying for dual degrees in Law and Business Administration, Krystyna also works as a model. She established the Krystyna Pyszko Foundation and remains actively involved in its initiatives, according to the Miss World website.

After Pyszkova, Miss Lebanon Yasmina Zaytoun was named the first runner-up. India, which hosted the event after 28 years, was represented by 22-year-old Sini Shetty. Mumbai-born Shetty, who was crowned Femina Miss India World in 2022, was unable to make it to the top 4 of the contest.

India has won the prestigious title six times — Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (2000), and Manushi Chillar (2017). The 71st Miss World pageant, which witnessed the participation of contestants from 112 countries of the world, was held at the Jio World Convention Centre in BKC here.

Part of the 12-judge panel for the finale were film producer Sajid Nadiadwala; actors Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde; cricketer Harbhajan Singh; news personality Rajat Sharma, social worker Amruta Fadnavis; Vineet Jain, MD of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Limited; Julia Morley, Chairperson and CEO of the Miss World Organization; Jamil Saidi, Strategic Partner & Host – Miss World India, and three former Miss Worlds, including Chillar.

Filmmaker Karan Johar and former Miss World Megan Young hosted the event, which kickstarted on a high note with performances by singers Shaan, Neha Kakkar, and Tony Kakkar. A video message by Chopra Jonas highlighting the importance of ’beauty with purpose’, a tagline associated with the Miss World pageant, was also played at the event.

The cast of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s maiden web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar” — Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, and Sanjeeda Sheikh — also walked the stage with 13 fast-track Miss World contestants on the show’s newly released song “Sakal Ban”. The month-long Miss World event featured a series of rigorous competitions, including talent showcases, sports challenges, and charitable initiatives — all aimed at highlighting the qualities that make these competitors the ambassadors of change.

(With agency inputs)