An Indian medical student has been crowned Miss World following a glamorous event in Chinese today, making her country the joint-most successful nation in the pageant’s history along with Venezuela.
Manushi Chhillar became India’s sixth winner of the prestigious beauty show, following in the footsteps of successful Bollywood actresses Priyanka Chopra and Aishwarya Rai.
Chhillar’s win means that India and Venezuela have both won the competition a record six times each over the course of its 67 year history.
The 20-year-old beauty winner is a trained Indian classical dancer who enjoys painting. The Miss World website also says that she hopes to open a chain of non-profit hospitals in rural areas.
Miss India Manushi Chhilar wins the 67th Miss World contest final in Sanya, on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan on November 18, 2017.
Contestants hold hands and pose during the 67th Miss World contest final in Sanya, Chinese on Saturday
During the competition, the contestants perform and try to wow the judges in the hope of being crowned the winner
Following her success, she tweeted: ‘Thank you, everyone, for your constant love, support. This one’s for India.’
She has retweeted a number of different articles relating to success and has become a trending topic on the social media site Twitter.
Among those to come out and congratulate her include Manohar Lal Khattar – the minister of her home state of Haryana.
She was crowed the winner by last year’s winner, Stephanie del Valle of Puerto Rico, at the ceremony in the Chinese coastal city of Sanya.
Britain’s Stephanie Hill and Mexico’s Andrea Meza completed the other podium place finishes.
Miss India Manushi Chhilar poses during the 67th Miss World contest (left) while Miss Mexico lma Andrea Meza Carmona walks on stage during and tries to impress the judges
It was the fifth time in 10 years China has held the prestigious competition. At the previous time the compeition was held in Sanya, controversy erupted after officials in Hong Kong stopped Miss Canada, Anastasia Lin, from boarding a plane bound China’s Hainan Island, saying she would not recieve a visa.
And last year, Lin was reportedly told not to speak by pageant bosses not to speak out about human rights abuses in China.
She did not compete in this year’s event, with China represented by high school student Cynthia Menard.
Most wins in the Miss World competition
India: 1966, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2017
Venezuela: 1955, 1981, 1984, 1991, 1995, 2011
United Kingdom: 1961, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1983
South Africa: 1958, 1974, 2014
United States: 1973, 1990, 2010
Iceland: 1985, 1988, 2005
Jamaica: 1963, 1976, 1993
Sweden: 1951, 1952, 1977
Puerto Rico: 1975, 2016
China: 2007, 2012
Russia: 1992, 2008
Peru: 1967, 2004
Austria: 1969, 1987
Germany: 1956, 1980
Argentina: 1960, 1978
Australia: 1968, 1972
Netherlands: 1959, 1962
Spain: 2015
Philippines: 2013
Gibraltar: 2009
Czech Republic: 2006
Ireland: 2003
Turkey: 2002
Nigeria: 2001
Israel: 1998
Greece: 1996
Poland: 1989
Trinidad and Tobago: 1986
Dominican Republic: 1982
Guam: 1980
Bermuda: 1979
Brazil: 1971
Finland: 1957
Egypt: 1954
France: 1953
– DAILY MAIL