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United News of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- United News of India
If one sets goal and work hard, success is guaranteed': Miss World 2025 Suchata
Hyderabad, Jun 1 (UNI) Thailand's Miss World 2025 winner Opal Suchata Chuangsri on Sunday said she believes that 'if one sets a goal and works hard, success is guaranteed'. Last year Miss World Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic crowned Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand at the final colour event held at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad on Saturday night. This is the first time Thailand has won in the history of the pageant and the second Southeast Asian country to receive the title. Speaking reporters at the Trident Hotel here, Suchata while describing her victory, said it is not just her personal win but a victory for every contestant and their purpose. ' I have been working on breast cancer awareness and fundraising in Thailand for the past three years', she said that she plans to work on her purpose project as well as other contestants' purpose projects under the Miss World organization, focusing on women's empowerment and related issues. She mentioned that her service initiatives are expanding worldwide. Expressing her heartfelt gratitude to the Telangana state government, she said "Hyderabad is a very beautiful city. The people here are very friendly. Having such a wonderful experience will be an unforgettable and sweet memory in my life." She stated that this is Thailand's very first Miss World crown, and winning this crown is not only a matter of pride for her but also a great responsibility. "I am indebted to the people of my country as well as everyone who worked for us in Hyderabad," she said. She mentioned that the moment the crown was announced, she was overwhelmed with emotion. 'not only every moment that she spent in Hyderabad, but also his fellow contenders', she said that she would come back to Hyderabad again. The government's hospitality has been amazing from the moment the airport landed, she said and thanked the police and security staff for their hard work. Telangana government has organized such a large event. On behalf of Miss World and Thailand, Suchata said special thanks to the state government. She said the hospitality of the people of Telangana is unforgettable, and the love and affection they showed will always remain in her heart. She mentioned that the dreams, traditions, dance, and music here were very captivating. She remarked that the construction of Ramappa and Charminar is a testament to artistic grandeur and has stood the test of time. Similarly, she praised Ramoji Film City and said she loved the Baahubali set. The 'She Teams' established here for women's safety is a great innovation, she also appreciated the innovations by women in fields such as education, healthcare, and IT. The Hyderabad experience will remain a lifelong memory, she added. UNI KNR GNK
The Print
21-05-2025
- The Print
Charminar to Golconda, Hyderabad is full of history. Yet not a single World Heritage Site
For once, the internet made a smart point—because had that actually been the case, the Charminar and other Hyderabad monuments might have made it to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites by now. It's a pity that despite being a global city, both historically and in the present day, Hyderabad still doesn't have a single monument on that list. All that we've had are feeble attempts. While their tour made global news, what got my attention were the many internet comments about the event. Many Hyderabadis kept reiterating one thing in their online comments: how things would be so much better if the Old City were free from its usual clutter for everyone and not just for fancy foreign guests. The whole world watched as the Old City of Hyderabad welcomed Miss World contestants during their heritage walk on the evening of 14 May, and I think, as a city, we couldn't have been prouder. The Charminar was swept clean and decorated, and the streets were sanitised to clear out the daily clutter and give the contestants a more comfortable experience. Also Read: The owners of Karachi Bakery are as Hyderabadi — and Indian — as anyone else Great sites, bad management With the exception of the Qutb Shahi tombs complex, monuments in Hyderabad are far from achieving UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The Golconda Fort and Charminar are globally known and attract a lot of tourists every year, but both sites are, frankly, good examples of bad management in general. (For now, Telangana's only spot on the list is the Kakatiya-era 13th-century Ramappa temple, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2020.) The Charminar, as it stands today, has a temple on it that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) itself has previously said is an unauthorised construction (and that it has no records of it). The Golconda Fort, meanwhile, is surrounded by residential homes. These were built over the last four decades within its original boundary walls. What many of us don't realise is that when we go to the fort, we only visit the palace area of the citadel. The fort actually has eight gates and several other monuments within its enclosure, covering about 7 kilometres, but those slowly gave way to unauthorised constructions. In Hyderabad, the ASI controls the Golconda Fort and the Charminar, while the Qutb Shahi tombs are managed by the state government. I won't mention any other places when it comes to the UNESCO World Heritage list, because these are the most prominent and historically important sites. Also Read: What makes someone a Hyderabadi—Irani chai, biryani, Nizam nostalgia, or Dakhni? Failed attempts at rejuvenation Hyderabad's heritage has been routinely let down. The Charminar was built in 1591, when Mohd Quli Qutb Shah, the fourth king of the Golconda kingdom, decided to move out of the Golconda Fort, which had been the capital until then. His grandfather, Sultan Quli, who was of Persian origin, had founded the Qutb Shahi or Golconda kingdom in 1518. The Qutb Shahi tombs complex is where the entire dynasty is buried. This necropolis is possibly one of the best historical sites in India to explore, thanks to its fabulous restoration by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. In 2020, there was supposedly a proposal to club it with other Deccan monuments in Bijapur and Bidar and nominate them together for the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag. However, that fell through. Then, about a decade ago, the state government had attempted the same with the Charminar and Golconda Fort. Even that did not work out due to the umpteen issues around both sites. Lack of basic public infrastructure, such as tourist amenities, and the failure to clear encroachments are two major issues that plague both monuments. Even the few limited successes barely lasted. For instance, in the Old City, the state government had started the Charminar Pedestrian Project, which unsuccessfully ran for over two decades to try and pedestrianise the main Pathergatti to Charminar stretch. While that didn't work out, the government finally managed to pedestrianise the 200–300 metre area in front of the Charminar about half a decade ago. I remember feeling happy then because hawkers had actually been kept off the main pathway leading to the Charminar. But even that lasted only two weeks, as the hawkers eventually reoccupied the road that was meant to facilitate a smooth walking experience. That, apart from the continuous littering caused by the hawkers and the general lack of hygiene, makes visiting the Charminar a terrible experience every single time. While there is now some hope with the Qutb Shahi tombs due to its restoration, we are still far from protecting and maintaining our monuments at a world-class level. Even citizens in those areas need to be sensitised to the fact that this will help them too. It will draw more tourists and help the city become a great destination that all of us can be proud of. Yunus Lasania is a Hyderabad-based journalist whose work primarily focuses on politics, history and culture. He tweets @YunusLasania. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
This word means: Miss World
Contestants from over 100 countries have gathered in Telangana to participate in the Miss World pageant, with the finale set to be held on May 31. Social media images of the contestants engaging in a foot-washing ritual at the Ramappa temple in Mulugu also led to a controversy this week. Last year, Mumbai hosted the event, where the Czech Republic's Krystyna Pyszkova was crowned the winner. It was the second time an Indian city was the host, following Bengaluru in 1996. The Miss World pageant is one of the oldest such competitions in the world. It was first held in Britain in 1951. According to US public broadcaster PBS, it coincided with the era 'of postwar reconstruction', and was held at the British government-staged Festival of Britain. The larger event also featured the latest industrial products, technological discoveries and the arts. However, the need to boost audience attendance led to the festival reaching out to Eric Morley, a publicity director at a London-based company. He persuaded planners to add an international beauty contest. Morley said contestants should be judged while wearing what was then a new beachwear sensation, the bikini. However, threats from the likes of Ireland and Spain to withdraw from the competition 'because of their opposition to women being judged in bikinis' led to the adoption of a one-piece bathing suit instead. The show's success led to it becoming an annual feature, its popularity aided by the rise of television. The competition has come to include talent showcases, sports challenges, and charitable initiatives, all to highlight the qualities that make the contestants 'exceptional ambassadors of change. Morley's widow, Julia Morley, co-chairs the competition at present. Miss World is distinct from the other three popular global pageants – the Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Earth. Miss Universe Organisation, for instance, was once owned by US President Donald Trump in the late 1990s. With the liberalisation of the Indian economy in 1991, international brands saw a sizable new market waiting to be tapped into. In 1994, the Miss World and Miss Universe titles were won by two Indian women – Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen, respectively – helping increase pageants' popularity in this region. Other Indian winners include actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas (2000), doctor Reita Faria (1966) and most recently, Manushi Chillar (2017). In a paper, Indiana University academic Radhika Parameswaran wrote that the 1996 event saw considerable business heft with sponsors ranging from manufacturers of soaps to credit card companies. But the idea of India hosting it was accompanied by significant backlash. The event was organised by actor Amitabh Bachchan's Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. (ABCL), and the company is reported to have suffered financial losses after the pageant. The New York Times reported that 'the numerous protests included self-immolation. Strange bedfellows found themselves entwined in their mutual outrage – feminists who found such contests degrading to women and Hindu nationalists who saw the show as an invasion of Western degeneracy. The swimsuit competition had to be moved to the nearby and more hospitable Seychelles Islands.' One man set himself on fire and died in the protests.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Laad Bazar to Chowmahalla: Hyderabad rolls out red carpet for Miss World contestants
Hyderabad, The contestants of Miss World 2025, representing 109 countries, were given a vibrant welcome on Tuesday as they visited Hyderabad's iconic Charminar and the bustling Laad Bazar , famous for its bangles and pearls. The 400-year-old monument came alive as the beauty queens arrived to a red carpet welcome, accompanied by the beats of Marfa music—a rhythmic, percussion-heavy genre popular in the Old City. The atmosphere turned celebratory as some of the contestants joined in, dancing joyfully to the music. The group attended a special photo shoot with the historic Charminar serving as a stunning backdrop. They also waved to the crowd from a specially-erected stage, drawing cheers from onlookers. As part of a heritage walk through the Old City, the contestants visited Laad Bazar for a curated shopping experience. They witnessed live demonstrations of traditional bangle-making techniques and expressed admiration for the craftsmanship of the local artisans. Shopkeepers at Laad Bazar welcomed the Miss World participants with roses and, in a generous gesture, did not accept money for the purchases, official sources said. They also urged the contestants to speak about the uniqueness of Hyderabad, Charminar, and Laad Bazar in their home countries. Later, the Miss World participants proceeded to the Nizam-era Chowmahalla Palace, also located in the Old City, where a specially-arranged cultural evening was held in their honour. The Telangana government made elaborate arrangements—including tight security and traffic management—to ensure the smooth conduct of the visit. The Miss World 2025 contest began with a glittering ceremony in Hyderabad on May 10 and will continue until May 31. As part of its broader vision, the Telangana government has drawn up an action plan to leverage the global event to enhance the state's international profile and attract investments. During their stay, the contestants will tour several key tourist attractions across the state, including heritage sites from the Nizam era and the UNESCO-listed Ramappa temple in Warangal.
