Malaysia (Commonwealth Union)_ Malaysian Tamil girl Taanusiya Chetty has made her country proud by finishing third at the Miss World 2026 competition in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Her achievement places her among Malaysia’s most successful contestants in the history of the international pageant. The 26-year-old Kuala Lumpur native, popularly known as Taanu, secured third place after competing against 110 other contestants from around the world. Her result also matches Malaysia’s best-ever performance at Miss World, achieved by Lina Teoh, who finished second runner-up in 1998. At the grand final on September 5, Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic was crowned Miss World 2026, while Spain’s Elisabeth Reynes Alabern finished as first runner-up.
Taanusiya’s journey stood out not only because of her beauty but also because of her work, confidence and ability to connect with people from different backgrounds. An educator by profession, she brought her experience as a teacher into the competition and used her platform to speak about education and environmental responsibility. She also won the prestigious Beauty With A Purpose (BWAP) award, which recognises contestants who are involved in meaningful humanitarian and community projects. Her work included Project Lestari Laut, an initiative that has focused on educating Orang Asli children since 2022.
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Taanusiya’s BWAP victory helped her qualify for the Top Six. During the question-and-answer round, she spoke about the importance of teaching children to care for the environment from an early age. She connected tree-planting with lessons about patience, growth and responsibility. Taanusiya also showcased Malaysian culture on the international stage by performing tarian silat during the pageant. Another moment that attracted widespread attention was a video of her speaking in English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil during the Head-to-Head Challenge on August 23.
After securing third place, Taanusiya thanked Malaysians for their encouragement and prayers throughout the competition. She said the support gave her strength and helped her make history for the country. Her achievement quickly received praise across social media, with Malaysians describing her as a source of pride and inspiration. Many also highlighted her ability to combine education, cultural identity and humanitarian work with her pageant journey. For Malaysia’s Tamil community, her success carries an added sense of pride. Taanusiya has shown that a young Malaysian Tamil woman can carry her heritage onto a global platform while representing the country with confidence. Her third-place finish ends a 28-year wait for Malaysia to return to the Miss World top three and adds another important chapter to the country’s pageant history.
