Miss India Manushi Chillar, flanked by Mexico's Andrea Meza (left)
and England's Stephanie Hill after winning the Miss World.
India's Manushi Chillar is the new Miss World
SANYA CITY (China), November 18, 2017
Miss India Manushi Chillar, a 20-year-old medical student, on Saturday clinched the Miss World title beating 108 other contestants from other countries at a glittering event held at Sanya City Arena in China to bring the crown back to India after 17 long years.
The last Indian to bag the title was Priyanka Chopra, who wore the crown in 2000.
Miss World 2016 winner Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Del Valle gave away the coveted crown to the winner. Chhillar, who is from Haryana, had earlier won the Femina Miss India 2017 on June 25, reported PTI.
The first and the second runners-up were Miss England Stephanie Hill and Miss Mexico Andrea Meza.
In the top five round, Chhillar was asked which profession according to her deserved the highest salary.
"I think a mother deserves the highest respect and when you talk about salary it's not always about cash but I feel it's the love and respect that you give to someone. My mother has always been the biggest inspiration in my life.
"All mothers sacrifice so much for their kids. So, I think it is the job of a mother that deserves the highest salary," Chhillar said to a wide-applause.
The medical student couldn't believe herself when her name was announced and reacted with extreme joy. Her family, who were in the audience, couldn't hold back their excitement as well.
Manushi, who won both the Head to Head challenge and the Beauty with a purpose segment of the Miss World competition, impressed the judges with her final answer as well.
The announcement about Chhillar winning the Miss World crown was also made on the pageant's official Twitter handle as well as on its Facebook page.
"The winner of Miss World 2017 is Miss India Manushi Chhillar," the tweet said.
Chhillar is the sixth Indian to win the coveted crown, which was first won by Reita Faria back in 1966.
Aishwarya Rai had bagged the title in 1994, followed by Diana Haydon in 1997, Yukta Mookhey in 1999 and Priyanka Chopra in 2000, the last for India.
According to Chhillar's profile on the Miss World website, she aims to be a cardiac surgeon and wants to open a chain of non-profitable hospitals based in rural areas.
A trained Indian classical dancer, Chhillar has a passion for outdoor sports and actively participates in paragliding, bungee jumping, snorkelling and scuba diving besides sketching and painting.
Her personal motto, as described on the website, reads: "When you cease to dream you cease to live" and "Courage to give flight to your dreams and the ability to believe in yourself makes life worth living".
Manushi took over from Priyadarshini Chatterjee to become the 54th Miss India World, and floored the judges to bag the Miss World title.
