Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri has made history by becoming the first woman from her country to win the Miss World crown.
The 21-year-old was crowned Miss World 2025 at a dazzling ceremony held at Hyderabad’s HITEX Exhibition Centre, marking a proud milestone for Thailand and the wider Asia-Pacific region on the international stage.
In her first interview after the win, Opal admitted the moment still feels surreal.
“It feels like a dream… this is the first crown for Thailand,”
she said, reflecting on her three-year journey in the world of pageantry.
She was crowned Miss World Thailand just a week before leaving for India, Opal’s swift rise to the global stage captured hearts worldwide.
Opal’s win was driven not just by beauty, but by purpose. Through her campaign ‘Opal For Her’, she’s raising awareness about breast cancer—a mission inspired by her own experience of undergoing surgery to remove a breast lump at just 16.
“People still think breast cancer only affects women above 30 or 40. That’s not true,” she said.
“It is curable if you detect it early. I want to use my platform to spread this message.”
Despite the buzz around a possible Bollywood future, Opal remains focused on her advocacy work.
“Winning the crown comes with responsibility. I want to prioritise my goals during my reign.
There may be opportunities after, but for now, this platform is about creating awareness and addressing important issues.”
This year’s pageant saw strong performances from across the globe. From the Asia and Oceania region, India’s Nandini Gupta and Australia’s Jasmine Stringer were both among the top five semifinalists. However, neither advanced into the top 8 or the final 4.
India’s Nandini made a graceful impact, particularly with her finale gown inspired by the sacred River Ganges—a tribute to Indian culture, designed by a Vietnamese fashion artist. Her presence in the Top 20 was a proud moment for the host nation.
Australia’s Jasmine Stringer also impressed with her poise and purpose. A primary school teacher from the Gold Coast, Jasmine is a talented singer, equestrian, and author who uses her platform to advocate against domestic and family violence.
Her ‘Beauty With a Purpose’ project honours the memory of Tara Brown, a family friend who was a victim of domestic violence. Jasmine’s community engagement and dedication earned her a place among the top five semifinalists for Asia and Oceania.
The final four regional winners who progressed to the last round were Martinique (Americas & Caribbean), Ethiopia (Africa), Poland (Europe), and Thailand (Asia & Oceania). The top 8 included Brazil and Martinique from the Americas, Ethiopia and Namibia from Africa, Poland and Ukraine from Europe, and the Philippines and Thailand from Asia & Oceania.
While the crown went to Thailand, India and Australia’s performances highlighted their commitment to using beauty as a force for good.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
