India’s Nandini Gupta wins Top Model challenge, advances to Miss World quarterfinals

Hyderabad: India’s Nandini Gupta has officially advanced to the quarterfinals of the 72nd Miss World pageant after being crowned the Top Model winner for the Asia & Oceania region.

The announcement came at the glittering Top Model competition held at the Trident Hyderabad, a landmark event that brought together 108 delegates from across the world in a runway celebration of culture, fashion and global sisterhood.

In a city that knows how to blend tradition and modernity, Nandini walked the ramp with quiet power and unmistakable poise, representing not just a nation but a new era of Indian womanhood. Her win was met with thunderous applause, sealing her place in the Grand Finale on May 31 at HITEX Exhibition Centre.

Top Model: A stage for global stories

The Top Model challenge is considered one of Miss World’s most prestigious fast-track events, offering a direct path to the quarterfinals. But for the organisation and its contestants, it’s about more than just style.

“The Top Model challenge is not just about elegance—it’s about confidence, voice and heritage walking together,” said Julia Morley CBE, chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organisation. “Each contestant tonight reminded us that beauty lies not only in how we look, but in what we stand for.”

Hosted by Miss World 2016 Stephanie del Valle of Puerto Rico, the evening was charged with energy and emotion as each delegate told her own story through fashion. The competition fused couture with cultural pride—modern silhouettes met ancestral symbolism, and confidence became the common language on stage.

Pochampally round

The contestants dressed in Pochampally sarees, ghagras and lehengas were a beauty to withhold. Each of them carried with a grace which made them look astoundingly beautiful. Telangana showcased it's pride of Pochampally and the make over in the Miss World competition showed how the blend of cultures can create a new designer set to behold.

Four continental winners, one global platform

At the end of the night, four winners were crowned, each representing their region on the world stage. They are:

Europe: Jasmine Gerhardt – Ireland

Africa: Selma Kamanya – Namibia

Asia & Oceania: Nandini Gupta – India

Americas & Caribbean: Aurélie Joachim – Martinique

These winners now move one step closer to the Miss World crown, gaining automatic entry into the quarterfinals.

Home soil, higher stakes

For Nandini Gupta, the moment carried even more weight. The dress she had worn for the top model finale was designed by renowned designer Rohit Bal. This lovely black dress is from his last collection named Qayamant.

Representing the host country, she has been under the spotlight since the pageant’s arrival in Hyderabad. But far from buckling under pressure, she’s emerged as one of the most composed and purposeful contestants.

Her presence on the runway echoed the ethos of the Miss World Festival—a blend of grace, commitment, and clarity of voice. With roots in Kanpur and a platform centred on social change, her journey reflects a balance between deep local grounding and global ambition.

A celebration beyond beauty

Miss Ukraine Maria Melnychenko won the hearts of the audience as her dress was judged as the best designer dress in the competition. "My dress shows that Ukraine shines the brightest even on the darkest nights."

Miss Malaysia Saroop Roshi had the audience in awe as she said, "Andariki namaskaram," in a fluent Telugu style.

All the contestants were conscious of the environment challenges in their country and how their dresses were designed to represent the eco-system around them.

Miss World finale

As the Top Model winners now turn their focus to the final week of the competition, the Miss World stage continues to evolve into something more than a contest. It is a mirror of what women are becoming around the world—bold, articulate, and mission-driven.

“The future is here,” Julia Morley said. “And it’s walking tall in heels and heritage.” All eyes now turn to May 31, when the crown will be claimed—but for Nandini Gupta, one thing is already clear: her moment has arrived.