Miss World 2025: What to expect at the coronation show in India

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Reigning Miss World Krystyna Pyszkova. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina

The Miss World pageant is one of the top-tier global beauty competitions, but is also one of the most elusive titles for the Philippines.

Since its inception in 1951, the Philippines has produced only one winner — Megan Young in 2013, who was crowned in Bali, Indonesia.

The Miss World Organization is founded by Eric Morley of the United Kingdom. Upon his death in 2000, his wife Julia has taken over the reins of the pageant to make it one of the most sought-after global pageants, along with Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss Earth. Collectively, they formed the so-called “Big Four” of beauty pageants.

Who is the current Miss World titleholder

Krystyna Pyszková of Czech Republic is the reigning Miss World titleholder, after besting 111 other aspirants, including the Philippines’ Gwendolyne Fourniol, a French-Filipino model and student from Himamaylan, Negros Occidental.

How many countries are joining?

For its 72nd edition, Miss World has 108 beauty queens participating. Initially Miss World England Milla Magee decided to leave the competition on May 16, citing a “family emergency,” but she was eventually replaced by another candidate from her country.

Philippines’ Krishnah Gravidez

Miss World Philippines 2024 Krishnah Gravidez. Image: Seven Barretto via Instagram/@krishnahgravidez

For the Miss World 2025, the country is fielding 24-year-old Krishnah Gravidez of Baguio City.

Gravidez first joined the Miss Universe Philippines in 2023, and was eventually crowned Miss Charm Philippines. and would have seen action in Vietnam had she not resigned.

A day after resigning from her post, she announced that she is joining the Miss World Philippines 2024 pageant, where she emerged as winner who will represent the country in the international stage in 2025.

“To color the WORLD with Kindness. Krishnah Marie Gravidez, @msworldphil 2024 — Baguio City,” Gravidez then said in her social media page.

Where will the Miss World 2025 coronation be held?

The 72nd edition of the longest-running international beauty pageant, Miss World, is currently ongoing in India, in the southern state of Telangana.

A new queen will be crowned at the end of the coronation ceremonies that will be held at the Hyderabad International Convention and Exhibition Center (Hitex) in Hyderabad on Saturday, May 31.

The coronation show is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. in India (9 p.m. in the Philippines). Fans may watch the show via a pay-per-view service on the Miss World website.

The organizers decided to proceed with the pageant amid the ongoing armed clashes between Indian and Pakistan forces in the contested Kashmir region.

No swimsuit competition

Unlike other international pageants, there will be no swimsuit competition during the coronation night of Miss World 2025, as in the previous years.

This policy has been in place since 2014, citing its focus on “brains and personality” rather than just physical appearance.

What can be expected, however, was for the candidates to parade in their respective gowns throughout the coronation night, as they await for the results on who will advance to the finals based on their performances during the preliminary challenges.

Continental and fast track challenges

At the final competition show, all of the 108 delegates will be presented onstage and introduced individually. They will then be trimmed down to just 40 quarterfinalists.

The quarterfinalists will be composed of 10 delegates from each of the four geographic groups — Africa, Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania.

Also included in the 40 quarterfinalists are the winners of the various “fast-track” events — Sports Challenge, Talent Challenge, Head-to-Head, Top Model, Beauty with a Purpose, and Multimedia — taking the slots allocated for their continental groups.

From 40, the roster will be further whittled down to just 20 semifinalists, still with equal representation from the four groups. Five ladies each from the continental teams will proceed to the semifinals.

But only eight ladies will advance to the next round of competition. Two  delegates will each come from the Africa, Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania groups.

Final round

The final round will have only four ladies, one representative from Africa, one from the Americas and Caribbean, one from Europe, and another one from Asia and Oceania.

One winner of the Miss World title will be proclaimed, and will be crowned by Pyszkova as successor. The rest of the finalists will be the runners-up. /ra /edv