Joheirry Mola

 Dominican Republic wins 73rd Miss World crown, PH in Top 12

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Joheirry Mola of Domican Republic bested 110 other international delegates to be crowned the 73rd winner of the Miss World crown. She was crowned by outgping titleholder Suchata “Opal” Chuangsri of Thailand. 

Elisabeth Reynes of Spain was proclaimed 1st runner-up while Taanusiya Chetty of Malaysia was named 2nd runner-up, aside from winning the Beauty with a Purpose project.

Asia Rose Simpson’s journey to the crown was filled with triumphs from several challenges. She first became part of the Top 60 (24th Place) in the Sports challenge, placed third in the Talent challenge, and her Seed Foundation was chosen as one of her continent’s Top 6 Beauty with a Purpose projects. Asia Rose won the entire Head-to-Head challenge to easily fast track herself to the Top 12.

The other ladies who made it to the Top 6 were Romanda Hombir (South Africa), People’s Choice poll winner Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin (Eritrea), and hometown girl Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc (Vietnam).

The other delegates who made it to the Top 20 were Makanaka Makanyiso (BWAP, Zimbanwe), Dr. Adah Mushibi (Multimedia, Zambia), Indira Ampiot (Top Model, France), Asia Rose Simpson (Head-to-Head, Philippines), Josianne Sciotti (Peru)), Jade Glab (USA), Alina Luz Akselrad (Argentina), Gabriela Botelho (Brazil), Tiare Henry-Anguna (Cook Islands), Yifei Dong (China), Fatoumata Diop (Senegal), Ivy Trizah Muhenye (Kenya), Olga Lombardo (Belgium), Julia Horne (Gibraltar), and Valeriia Lisovska (Ukraine).

Pageant observers were hoping the event would feel like a deja vu from 2013 when the Philippines won both the Miss World and Miss Supranational for the first time, and the Miss International for the fifth time. Only, the aspiration did not transpire as hoped for.

Among the members of the selection committee were MWO chief executive officer Julia Morley CBE, Jonathan Shaw, as well as past winners Lady Wilnelia Merced Forsythe of Puerto Rico (1975), Linda Petersdottir of Iceland (1988), Karolina Bielawska of Poland (2021), and Krystyna Pyskova of Czech Republic (2024).

The 73rd edition of the Miss World pageant unfolded from the 2 Thang 4 Square complex in Nha Trang, Vietnam and was witnessed globally through the Miss World Organization’s channel on YouTube.