The Miss World competition, one of the biggest international beauty pageants, will take place in Hyderabad from May 10 to 31. The opening ceremony is set to begin on the evening of Saturday, May 10, amid calls from the opposition to postpone it amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
Contestants from across the world have been arriving at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport over the past few days, welcomed by state government departments with fanfare. 'Telangana, Zarur Aana', they’re made to cheer at the cameras, the tagline of the state tourism department.
This is all happening just days after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy implored government employees not to go on strike over pending bills. “Will you cut me up, cook and eat me?” he asked them, saying he simply didn't have the funds for them, lamenting that the state was on the verge of bankruptcy and unable to raise loans.
As Congress and the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) continue to trade blame for the state’s financial crisis, the Revanth Reddy government refuted allegations that it was spending over Rs 200 crore on hosting Miss World. The state’s contribution of Rs 27 crore will mainly come from sponsors, authorities have said.
The government says it will use Miss World as a platform to showcase the state’s heritage and tourism potential globally. But BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) has questioned how the Congress government was willing to spend state resources on a beauty pageant after thwarting the previous government’s attempts to host the Formula E race.
The Revanth Reddy government has charged KTR with corruption in hosting Formula E in Hyderabad, cancelling the event after coming to power, despite BRS’ claims that the previous edition of the event brought crores to the state in economic benefits, investments, and job opportunities.
Apart from the state’s political controversies, the Miss World event has now been further eclipsed by the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Hours before the opening ceremony, BRS MLC Kavitha Kalvakuntla urged the state government to consider postponing the event in view of the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict. “At this time, our focus must remain on national unity, peace, and security,” she said.
What Telangana expects to gain from hosting Miss World
This is the first time Hyderabad is hosting Miss World, in the event’s 72nd edition. The previous 2023 edition was held in India too, in Mumbai. Before that, Bengaluru hosted the pageant in 1996.
While promoting the event, Smita Sabharwal, former Special Chief Secretary of Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture (YAT&C), had talked about the state’s tourism potential, from wildlife to the hills. “The government of Telangana is committed to making this festival a brand image for Telangana tourism,” she said.
While the actual competition starts only on May 17, during the preceding week, the government has made plans to show the foreign contestants around the state.
Contestants from 116 countries will be taken to the Thousand Pillar Temple, Warangal Fort, Yadagirigutta Temple, Ramappa Temple and other tourist attractions in rural Telangana, and also the handloom weaving village of Pochampally. Medical tourism and even the Telangana Police Integrated Command & Control Centre (TGICCC) are on their itinerary.
CM Revanth has said that the Miss World 2025 celebrations should be held in such a way that “the image of Telangana draws the world's attention.” “Arches and hoardings should be beautifully decorated throughout Hyderabad…so that the buzz of Miss World is visible for all,” CM Revanth said during a review meeting on May 5.
Ads have been splashed in Hyderabad’s metro trains and airports across the country.
Following the opening ceremony at Gachibowli Stadium on May 10, contestants will be shown around Telangana for a week. The government has made arrangements to take them to Buddhavanam, a state-run Buddhist theme park in Nagarjunasagar, Hyderabad’s Charminar, Laad Bazaar, Chowmahalla Palace, Warangal Fort, Thousand Pillar Temple, Bhadrakali Temple, the Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Yadagirigutta Temple, the weaving village of Pochampally, the 700-year-old banyan tree at Pillalamarri in Mahbubnagar, Ramoji Film City, and the Experium Eco Tourism Park.
They will also have “an introduction to medical tourism” and a visit to the Telangana Police Integrated Command & Control Centre (TGICCC).
After the finale on May 31, the “celebrations” will conclude on June 2, Telangana State Formation Day, when the new Miss World and the Continental winners will meet the Governor and Chief Minister at Raj Bhavan, the government has said.
CM Revanth has directed officials to make elaborate arrangements for the event. The police have been asked to step up surveillance and security arrangements, particularly in the hotels where foreign guests are staying and the surrounding areas of Gachibowli Stadium, Charminar, Laad Bazaar, Chowmahalla Palace and the Secretariat, where the contestants will be visiting. Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand has also issued orders prohibiting drones in these areas during contestants’ visits.
The Chief Minister also asked officials to take precautions to avoid traffic problems and power outages in areas where the Miss World programme is being held.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) have been asked to stay on alert to avoid problems even in the event of strong winds and rainfall.
Students from government-run residential schools for BCs, SCs, STs and minorities will also be taken to witness the Miss World celebrations for a day.