By Ren Azrack L. Escosio
Thailand has won its first-ever Miss World title after Opal Suchata Chuangsri was crowned as the winner of the 72nd edition of the popular pageant.
Miss World 2024 Krystyna Pyszková from Czech Republic passed on the famous blue crown to the Thai beauty at the HITEX Exhibition Center in Hyderabad, India, on Saturday evening.
During the Top 4 segment, Indian actor Sonu Sood asked Chuangsri what her Miss World journey had taught her about truth and personal responsibility.
In her answer, Chuangsri highlighted the importance of being a good example to other people, including family members and children.
She bested 107 other candidates in the 2025 Miss World pageant, including Ethiopia’s Hasset Dereje Admassu in second, Poland’s Maja Klajda in third, and Martinique’s Aurélie Joachim in fourth.
Chuangsri’s win also marked Thailand’s first crown in the longest-running beauty pageant, with Miss World having held its first edition back in 1951.
Opal confirms favourite status
Opal was seen as a clear front-runner by many pageant fans and critics for the coveted title since she finished as third runner up at the 2024 Miss Universe competition in Mexico.
She then made headlines in April after being announced as Thailand’s representative for the 2025 Miss World competition.
As a result, the Miss Universe Organization decided to take back her runner-up finish due to an alleged breach of Miss Universe duties.
“Due to the breach of her contractual obligations by participating in an external pageant, this decision underscores our expectation that all winners fulfill their duties throughout their entire reign,” the organisation said in its official announcement.
Chuangsri defended her appointment as Miss World Thailand and insisted that the Miss Universe Organization failed to discuss any contracts with the runners-up of the 2024 pageant.
Pageant fans are now calling Opal a ‘redirected queen’ due to her success at Miss World 2025.
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Indonesia wins Beauty With A Purpose
Indonesia’s Monica Kezia Sembiring was also recognised for her Beauty With A Purpose project, Pipeline for Lifeline, during the coronation night in India.
According to the Miss World official website, the Indonesian beauty queen’s work “brings clean water and improved sanitation to underserved communities in Indonesia. By addressing the most basic human need, safe water, her initiative is restoring health and dignity to those in need”.
Sembiring further won the pageant’s Talent Competition, earning her an automatic spot in the Top 40.
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