Entertainment (Commonwealth Union)
The Miss World Finale, hosted in Telangana, Hyderabad, crowned Opal Suchata Chuangsri from Thailand as the 72nd Miss World 2025 during a glamorous and unforgettable evening celebrating beauty, womanhood, and social advocacy.
Topping a pageant of 108 strong contestants, the 21-year-old was crowned by the 2024 winner, the 71st Miss World, Krystyna Pyszková, making her the first-ever Miss World from Thailand.
Held at the HITEX Exhibition Centre, the prestigious event was co-hosted by Miss World 2016 Stephanie del Valle and Indian presenter Sachiin Kumbhar, following a month-long series of the contestants engaging in its vibrant culture, philanthropic advocacy, and social initiatives.
This year’s pageant marks India’s third time hosting the celebrated event, following its first-time hosting at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore and again in Mumbai, as well as hosting Miss World for two consecutive years. The event transformed Hyderabad into a global hub that showcased the city’s heritage and cultural richness, representing unity and elegance while celebrating the empowering nature of womanhood.
Opal Suchata
Born in Phuket, Suchata is a political science student focused on international relations. Parallel to her academic pursuits, Suchata has also become fluent in Thai, English, and Chinese. She also plays the ukulele and has displayed her love for animals by taking in and caring for 16 cats and 5 dogs.
Suchata’s “Beauty with a Purpose” initiative is based on her campaign “Opal for Her” foundation stemming from a health scare she received, having to operate out a benign breast lump at the age of 16. The foundation aims to educate young women on breast cancer and the merits of detecting it early on, showcasing her commitment to creating a lasting impact. During the competition, Suchata states that “Success means to live your life and to create a life that’s better for people around you as well.”
Opal Suchata’s venture into the world of pageantry initially began in 2021 as she competed in Miss Rattanakosin. Later on, she competed in Miss Universe Thailand 2022, where she initially placed third runner-up but was later moved up to second runner-up. In 2024, she represented Thailand in the 73rd Miss Universe Contest held in Mexico City. Despite not achieving the crown, she created a significant impact, gaining global admiration, and winning Voice for Change—Silver for her social advocacy. In 2024, she was crowned Miss World Thailand, being appointed as the representative just a week before the pageant began in Telangana.
The Finale
The competition’s commencement saw the announcements of the quarter-finalists, with 10 contestants representing each region—Asia & Oceania, Europe, America & the Caribbean, and Africa.
With some competitors having already secured their place ahead by winning challenges such as Head-to-Head, Beauty with a Purpose, sports, talent, and multimedia, the panel of judges selected the rest of the semi-finalists by conducting interviews. The semifinalists consisted of 5 contestants from each region, who were consequently short-listed to the top 8 contestants divided equally among the regions. This phase was followed by the four continental winners who would proceed to the final round.
| Continental Winners | ||
| Asia & Oceania | Thailand | Opal Suchata |
| Europe | Poland | Maja Klajda |
| Africa | Ethiopia | Hasset Dereje |
| America & Caribbean | Martinique | Aurélie Joachim |
Facing the judges one more time, the contestants were required to answer a question that expressed their vision, eloquence, and the values they hold, which would greatly contribute to the selection of this year’s winner.
Upon the crowning of Miss World 2025 Opal Suchata, the chairwoman of the Miss World Organization spoke before the contestants and onlookers, stating, “Tonight, the world saw not just beauty, but brilliance, courage, and a call for change. Opal has shown us that she is more than a winner – she is a woman of purpose, with a voice that the world is ready to hear.”
The first runner-up contestant was Hasset Dereje from Ethiopia (Miss World Africa), with the second runner-up being Maja Klajda from Poland (Miss World Europe) and the third runner-up being Aurélie Joachim from Martinique (Miss World Caribbean).
Opal Suchata spoke after her crowning, stating, “This moment is not just a personal victory, it is a shared dream of every young girl who wants to be seen, heard, and create change”, emphasising the significance of the Miss World pageant in inspiring global change.
