Miss Wales, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, and Zambia win Miss World Head-to-Head Challenge in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The finale of the Head-to-Head Challenge, a key segment of the 72nd Miss World Festival, was held on Thursday at Hotel Trident in Hyderabad. Twenty contestants representing Europe, Africa, Asia & Oceania, and the Americas & Caribbean took part in the final round of the competition, which focused on public speaking, advocacy, and social issues.

Each regional group consisted of five contestants, with one winner selected from each to advance to the Miss World Top 10. The winners were Miss Trinidad & Tobago, Anna-Lise Nanton, representing the Americas & Caribbean; Miss Zambia, Faith Bwalya, representing Africa; Miss Wales, Millie-Mae Adams, representing Europe; and Miss Turkey, Idil Bilgen, representing Asia & Oceania.

Focus on Social Impact

The Head-to-Head Challenge is designed to give contestants a platform to address global and local issues. Topics ranged from women’s safety and empowerment to education, cultural identity, mental health, and the influence of social media.

In the Americas & Caribbean segment, contestants were asked to reflect on women’s safety and empowerment in Telangana. Miss Trinidad & Tobago responded, “Progress and empowerment go hand in hand. India, especially Hyderabad, has embraced this. We cannot succeed when half the population is left behind. Thank you, Telangana, for ensuring women are not left behind.”

From the African region, contestants shared how challenges became opportunities. Miss Zambia spoke about her scholarship in clinical medicine, stating, “Time does not measure what I can do. It is about passion and purpose.” In the Europe category, the focus was on improving young lives through national change. Miss Wales advocated for accessible healthcare and education, and shared her personal story as the first in her family to attend university.

In the Asia & Oceania group, contestants discussed how their ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ projects changed their perspectives. Miss Turkey, an oncologist, spoke about raising awareness for early cancer detection following her mother’s passing. In the final round, she added, “Cultural differences are not barriers but bridges.”

Climate Change and Telangana in the Spotlight

All four regional winners faced questions on climate change and on promoting Telangana to the world. Miss Trinidad & Tobago said, “When you love something, you protect it. Tree-planting and hikes in my country reconnect us with nature. Small steps lead to lasting change.” On Telangana, the winners praised its innovation, culture, and hospitality.

Miss Turkey called it a “hub of technology and medical progress.” Miss Wales highlighted the “warmth of the people.” Miss Zambia said the state reflected the spirit of ‘Beauty with a Purpose.’ Miss Trinidad & Tobago described Telangana as a place that “radiates kindness, culture, and connection.”

Finalists from 107 Contestants

The 20 finalists were chosen from 107 contestants following a preliminary round held earlier in Telangana. The finalists demonstrated strong advocacy, clarity of thought, and a commitment to social causes.

Finalists by Region:

• Europe: Spain (Corina Mrazek), Wales (Millie-Mae Adams), France (Agathe Cauet), Germany (Silvia Dörre Sánchez), Ireland (Jasmine Gerhardt)
• Americas & Caribbean: Brazil (Jessica Pedroso), Suriname (Chenella Rozendaal), Cayman Islands (Jada Ramoon), Guyana (Zalika Samuels), Trinidad & Tobago (Anna-Lise Nanton)
• Asia & Oceania: Sri Lanka (Anudi Gunasekara), Thailand (Opal Suchata Chuangsri), Turkey (Idil Bilgen), Lebanon (Nada Koussa), Japan (Kiana Tomita)
• Africa: South Africa (Zoalize Jansen van Rensburg), Namibia (Selma Carlicia Kamanya), Somalia (Zainab Jama), Uganda (Natasha Nyonyozi), Zambia (Faith Bwalya)

Julia Morley CBE, Chairperson and CEO of the Miss World Organisation, praised the participants, “I am immensely proud of every young woman who took part. Their voices resonated with truth and inspiration. They have reminded us of the power of storytelling and standing up for what is right.”