Krystyna Pyszkova

 Czech Republic is 71st Miss World winner

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

After Poland's victory in 2022, another European delegate won the Miss World crown. 

Krystyna Pyszkova of the Czech Republic was crowned the 71st Miss World titleholder, besting 111 other hopefuls at glitzy rites in Mumbai, India. She was also proclaimed the continental winner of Europe during the final round. Karolina Bielawska of Poland crowned the Eastern European beauty at the culmination of the show.

Following the pageant's new format, Yasmina Zaytoun of Lebanon was the lone runner-up, and was named the continental queen for Asia/Oceania. The two other finalists were Lesego Chombo of Botswana, who was named the continental winner for Africa, while Aché Abrahams of Trinidad & Tobago was proclaimed the continental winner for the Americas & the Caribbean.

The delegates from Brazil, Uganda, England, and India made it to the Top 8, while delegates from Dominican Republic, Mauritius, Spain, and Australia completed the Top 12.

During a special segment, MWO founder & CEO Julia Morley handed out the Humanitarian Award to the Reliance Foundation and its prime mover Niya Mukesh Ambani. Prior to the announcement of the Final Four, the semifinalists were made to pitch their reasons why they should win as the new Miss World, before the judging panel and a few members from Shark Tank India.

In the Q&A during the Top 8 semifinals, Czech Republic was asked to comment on a scenario: "I want you to imagine one thing: Imagine that you're a child and you have your dreams and your hopes but as you grow older, your dreams are going further and further away.

"Now, imagine that you are a parent and your child needs to go to through the same situation -- having a dream but while growing up, the dream is going further and further and that's because the children doesn't get the proper education to fulfill that dream."

And Krystyna expounded that, "As of 2024, it is still a fact that 250 million children are out of school worldwide and that's why my lifelong mission is providing quality education to unprivileged children.

"I believe education is the fundamental right every child deserves and I'm here to advocate for those children. It's something that I've been doing for a very long time, much before I entered pageantry. It's something that's really close to my heart that I would love doing; either I win or I don't win Miss World. Thank you so much."

Krystyna is a staunch advocate for the provision of education to the underprivileged. She does her campaigns not only in the Czech Republic, but also for the unschooled children in Tanzania.

The other lucky delegates who made it to the quarterfinals were Nepal (Beauty with a Purpose project), Martinique (Top Model), Croatia (Sports), Vietnam (Multimedia), Tunisia (Talent), Nigeria and Zimbabwe (Head-to-Head) from the fast track challenges; as well as delegates from Belize, Canada, Peru, Puerto Rico, Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Belgium, Gibraltar, France, Italy, Wales, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Turkiye who were chosen by the preliminary judges.

Philippine delegate Gwendolyn Furniol was, however, unplaced.

Co-hosted by Miss World 2013 Megan Young and Indian filmmaker Karan Johar, the 2024 Miss World coronation night was beamed live to a global audience from the Jasmine Ballroom of the Jio World Convention Center in Mumbai, India.