Miss World contestants from 107 countries to visit Victoria Memorial Home in Saroor Nagar
Hyderabad: A total of 107 Miss World contestants are scheduled to visit the Victoria Memorial Home in Saroor Nagar this morning, May 22, 2025. The home, built in 1903 by the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan Bahadur, currently functions as a government residential school.
During the visit, contestants from 107 countries will interact with students residing at the home and inaugurate a newly arranged computer lab. The group includes 33 contestants from Europe, 20 from the Americas, 9 from the Caribbean, 23 from Africa, and 22 from various Asian countries.
The Victoria Memorial Home was established in memory of Queen Victoria following her death in 1901. In 1904, the British Resident requested the Nizam to set up an institution in her honor. A royal decree by the succeeding ruler led to the founding of the orphanage in the Saroor Nagar Palace. It was officially inaugurated on February 14, 1905.
In January 1953, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited the home. At his request, the term “orphanage” was changed to “home.” Spread over more than 70 acres, the campus is located near the Victoria Memorial Metro Station. The total built-up area is 7,676 square meters, with the first floor covering 1,250 square meters.
The visit follows the conclusion of the Head-to-Head Challenge, a major segment of the 72nd Miss World Festival, which ended at T-Hub, Telangana’s innovation and entrepreneurship hub, on May 21. The two-day event brought together contestants to present their social impact projects under the Miss World “Beauty With a Purpose” initiative.
Participants addressed a wide range of global and local issues including child education, mental health, autism, plastic pollution, solar energy, gender-based violence, language preservation, child sexual abuse, drug awareness, and community development. They also focused on the economic challenges faced by marginalized groups and education for special communities.
The Head-to-Head Challenge was organized by region, contestants from the Americas, Caribbean, and Africa presented on May 20, while representatives from Europe, Asia, and Oceania spoke on May 21. Julia Morley CBE, Chair and CEO of the Miss World Organisation, said, “The Head-to-Head Challenge is more than a competition; it’s a platform for sharing courage, compassion, and purpose. Hosting it in Telangana, a state known for its progressive outlook, adds meaning to the event.”