logo
Recalling Opal: The heart of Miss World 2025

Recalling Opal: The heart of Miss World 2025

Hans India01-06-2025
I still remember the first time I met Miss Thailand Opal Suchata Chuangsri for an exclusive interview for Hans India. She was confident, radiant, and yet so grounded. Long before she became Miss World 2025, she carried something more powerful than beauty: purpose.
Her story stayed with me. At just 16, Opal underwent surgery to remove two large benign breast tumours — one 8 centimeters, the other 10. It was a defining moment. She said, 'I was waiting outside the operating room all alone. That's when I realised I had to live my life on my own — and live it well.' That pain became her power. By the time she stepped onto the Miss World stage, Opal was already a force for change. Through Opal for Her, she brought breast cancer awareness into the spotlight.
Her podcast 'Braveheart' shared the voices of survivors and health leaders across Thailand.
Her partnership with Prima Jewellery led to the Daobrak collection — beautiful pieces that now fund screenings and treatments for women in need.
But what struck me most was her sincerity. During the pageant in India, she spoke about her stay in Telangana. 'The kindness I received in Telangana was overwhelming,' she said. 'The people, the culture, the warmth — it felt like home. It's something I'll always carry with me.'
When the crown was placed on her head, it wasn't just a win for Thailand — it was a win for every woman who ever felt unseen. And in true Opal fashion, her message remains:
'You are not alone. In Thailand, we say cancer is afraid of happiness — so keep smiling, keep laughing, and keep living.'
Opal didn't just wear the crown — she redefined what it means.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Telangana's GCC advantage: Hyd's role in India's innovation future
Telangana's GCC advantage: Hyd's role in India's innovation future

Hans India

time03-08-2025

  • Hans India

Telangana's GCC advantage: Hyd's role in India's innovation future

India's Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have historically centered around major metros like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR. Yet, quietly and decisively, Hyderabad has positioned itself as a dynamic new leader. Today, Telangana's capital hosts nearly 275 of India's 1,700 GCCs - a significant share set to expand rapidly. Crucially, this growth isn't merely about quantity, but about Hyderabad's rising strategic significance in global innovation. 'The speed at which Telangana transitioned from basic back-office operations to a global hub for innovation is truly remarkable,' Dr Purav Gandhi, CEO & Founder of Healthark, toldThe Hans India. Hyderabad has evolved into an integral node within global R&D and innovation networks, going beyond simple outsourcing, he added. Dr Purav Gandhi is a physician with an MBA and over 15 years of experience in the healthcare and life sciences industry, with deep expertise in advising clients across the full spectrum of life sciences domains. Telangana's deliberate policy agility underpins this success. Initiatives like TS-iPASS -Telangana's single-window clearance system - deliver rapid project approvals, often within two weeks. Combined with robust infrastructure, tailored incentives, and proactive governance, Hyderabad now offers multinationals unmatched efficiency and stability. The impact is evident across sectors. Global firms like Novartis, Bayer, HSBC, Micron, and Salesforce have significantly expanded their Hyderabad operations, shifting key global functions to the city. A groundbreaking collaborative model emerged in 2024, when 40 global healthcare firms joined to form the Life Sciences & Healthcare GCC Consortium, highlighting industry-driven collaboration rather than competition as a core strength. Yet, Hyderabad's story transcends healthcare alone. Banking giants such as JP Morgan and Wells Fargo use Hyderabad's analytics expertise for global risk management. Semiconductor leaders Micron and AMD rely on local engineering talent. Climate-tech innovators actively pursue cutting-edge solutions within Hyderabad's expanding R&D infrastructure. However, maintaining this trajectory requires addressing significant challenges. Growing talent demand in fields like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced analytics already surpasses local supply. Dr Gandhi emphasizes the need for swift action: 'Telangana must quickly expand its talent pipelines through innovative education models, micro-credentialing programs, satellite innovation hubs in tier-2 cities, and dedicated skill-development universities.' As Hyderabad continues its rapid economic ascent, the pressure on urban infrastructure is becoming increasingly evident. The city's success story must now be matched by strategic investments in housing, mobility, and sustainable development. Without thoughtful planning and timely action, the very growth that fuels Hyderabad's rise could begin to challenge its livability. Addressing these urban needs is not just important -it's essential for sustaining the city's momentum and quality of life. Looking to 2030, Telangana's comprehensive strategy involves scaling globally integrated consortium models, institutionalizing specialized education initiatives such as the upcoming Life Sciences University, and embedding artificial intelligence across all sectors. These coordinated efforts aim to elevate Hyderabad from regional prominence to global leadership in Hyderabad's GCC narrative is not just aneconomic growth story. It reflects a strategic reorientation of global value chains toward innovation, collaboration, and foresight. As Dr Gandhi concludes, 'Telangana has an opportunity to set global benchmarks. If Hyderabad maintains its momentum, it will not only transform the local economy but also redefine India's role in the global innovation landscape.' (This article is jointly brought to you by World Trade Center Shamshabad & Future City and Healthark, as part of a knowledge series supporting Telangana's aspiration to become a $1 trillion economy)

BRS urges Telangana HC to step in over recurring food poisoning incidents in residential schools
BRS urges Telangana HC to step in over recurring food poisoning incidents in residential schools

The Hindu

time27-07-2025

  • The Hindu

BRS urges Telangana HC to step in over recurring food poisoning incidents in residential schools

HYDERABAD The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has urged the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court to take suo motu cognisance of the recurring incidents of food poisoning in residential schools across Telangana. The appeal comes in the wake of 111 students from the Jyotiba Phule Backward Classes Welfare Residential School for Girls in Uyyalawada, Nagarkurnool district, being hospitalised on Sunday. BRS leader T. Harish Rao, who visited the school along with party leaders Marri Janardhan Reddy, C. Laxma Reddy, Guvvala Balaraju and others, interacted with students and parents at the hospital. He expressed concern that such a serious incident had occurred in Chief Minister Reddy's home district, despite the CM also holding the Education portfolio. 'When the government can spend ₹1 lakh for a meal during the Miss World beauty pageant, why can't it provide safe food to students in residential schools,' Rao questioned. He further criticised the government for what he termed as a political vendetta, asking if erasing the legacy of former CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao meant neglecting students to the extent of illness and even death. Not a day goes by without distressing news about residential school students, he said, adding that while the government has been talking about integrated schools for the past 20 months, not a single one has yet been established. Rao said that repeated incidents of food poisoning in government residential schools were eroding public trust, leading to a drop in admissions as parents were increasingly reluctant to send their children to such institutions. He urged the Chief Minister to introspect and take immediate steps to improve conditions, at the very least, by ensuring hygienic living environments and safe, nutritious food for students. He also interacted with students at the school and blamed the ongoing issues on the government's negligence and administrative failure, pointing out that such incidents have been frequently reported across the State over the past 20 months. He alleged that authorities rushed students to the hospital only after learning about the BRS team's visit, and in some cases, children were treated under trees on the school campus itself, making them hold IV fluid bottles in their hands. He further claimed that over 100 students have died in residential schools during this period, even as he underscored the urgent need for intervention.

"Telangana Rising 2047" aims to make Hyderabad hub for medical, health tourism
"Telangana Rising 2047" aims to make Hyderabad hub for medical, health tourism

India Gazette

time02-07-2025

  • India Gazette

"Telangana Rising 2047" aims to make Hyderabad hub for medical, health tourism

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 2 (ANI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has stated that medical tourism will be included as one of the priority sectors in the 'TelanganaRising 2047' document, which the State Government is preparing, as stated in the release. According to the release, Hyderabad has already become a centre of excellence in medical care, and patients from various countries visit the city for medical treatment. The Chief Minister stated that the 'Telangana Rising' document will focus more on developing the historical city of Hyderabad as a hub for medical and health tourism in the country. Stating that the government is moving forward with plans to provide free medical care and quality education to the poor, CM Revanth Reddy said the government has already earmarked Rs 11,500 crore funds for the development of the medical sector and Rs 21,500 crore for education in the current financial year. Doctor Nori Dattatreya has also been appointed as a cancer care consultant to the government. The CM emphasised that the government hospitals should compete with private corporate hospitals, and the doctors should serve in government hospitals for at least one month as a social responsibility. The Chief Minister said that the State government is already providing free medical treatment to the poor up to Rs 10 lakhs, and there is a need to take more precautions to prevent health problems. For this, the government is planning to create a health profile card for women in self-help groups. The health profile cards will have a unique ID. Appealing to AIG Hospital Chairman Dr Nageshwar Reddy to join as a partner with the government in the endeavour to strengthen the medical and health sectors, CM Revanth Reddy said that it is a matter of pride that patients from 66 countries are coming for treatment at AIG Hospital. 'Dr Nageshwar Reddy has brought laurels to Hyderabad and Telangana, and he deserves India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna,' said the Telangana CM. The CM said he will pursue the centre to recognise the noted doctor's services and present the prestigious award to him. The visit of Miss World contestants to the renowned hospital showcased the advancements in medical care in Telangana on a global scale. Listing out initiatives taken by the government to strengthen medical care, the Chief Minister said that the family doctor system once existed, but specialist doctor services are now in high demand. Government hospitals are already under construction in different parts of the State and the works for the new Osmania hospital are under progress. A total of 7000 additional beds will be available after the completion of all new hospital building works, the CM said. Since Hyderabad has become a hub of IT and emerging healthcare services provider in the world, the Chief Minister said that government is holding talks with the union government to increase direct flight connectivity between Middle East countries and Hyderabad. More air connectivity will help Hyderabad to develop further. (ANI)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store