Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic won the title of Miss World 2024 on Saturday in Mumbai, India, the location of this year’s international pageant, defeating 111 other contestants from around the world. During the preliminary competition of the pageant, contestants competed in many categories such as fitness, beauty, talent, and public speaking. A few of them secured “fast track” spots in the top 40, which was revealed at the beginning of the show.
After then, the field was narrowed down to the top 12 and then the top 8, and the competitors took part in the traditional Q&A session, answering questions about subjects covered at the most recent G20 Summit. The 23-year-old model and law student Pyszková was asked to discuss a topic that directly affects women’s health care. She talked about breaking the stigma and guilt associated with menstruation, stating that “being a woman is a gift” and that talking about one’s period shouldn’t be frowned upon. Four finalists remained after a first round of eliminations to “pitch their purpose”—a charitable platform—to three wealthy businessmen from “Shark Tank India.”
These four finalists each represented a distinct continent: Asia and Oceania, Europe, Africa, and the Americas and Caribbean. These three runners-up, Yasmina Zeytoun of Lebanon, Aché Abrahams of Trinidad and Tobago, and Lesego Chombo of Botswana, were defeated by Pyszková. (These ladies are referred to as the pageant’s “continental winners,” together with Jessica Gagen of England.) Established in 1951 as a “bikini contest,” Miss World is recognized as the most ancient international beauty pageant. The two most well-known winners, Miss World 1994’s Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Miss World 2000’s Priyanka Chopra Jonas, are both Indian actors.
In a video statement, Chopra Jonas paid respects to Miss World owner Julia Morley as well as to Nita Ambani, who took home the Humanitarian Award during the competition. Pyszková takes over for Poland’s Karolina Bielawska, the reigning Miss World until March 2022. (There was no Miss World pageant in 2023 due to scheduling conflicts.)
