Fatigue eased by a musical welcome
It was almost three in the morning when, after a fifteen-hour flight, I finally arrived in India.
Tired from a sleepless night, I was impatiently waiting to get off the plane. The feeling of exhaustion was intertwined with a rush of adrenaline and excitement. Upon exiting, I was met by a police escort accompanied by two Indian women in traditional costume. They warmly welcomed me and escorted me to passport control.
My attention was drawn to the large posters dedicated to the Miss World pageant, which dominated almost every corridor of the airport. The passport control counter was reserved exclusively for contestants, and the employees watched with curiosity the girls who passed by with ribbons and ornate crowns.
As I approached the exit, I heard the piercing sound of drums and a growing murmur. Through the glass, I could see the colorful outlines of Indian costumes blending into the crowd.
In front of the airport, I was greeted by euphoric greetings and warm smiles from the gathered audience, while representatives of Telangana Tourism expressed a warm welcome. Indian women in traditional costumes surrounded me, performing a traditional dance, while drummers produced lively, energetic music. With dancing and the sounds of drums, I was escorted to the hotel, where everything continued in the same spirit, cheerful and cordial.
I was accommodated in the luxurious hotel “Trident”, which hosted 110 girls from all over the world. I was greeted in my room with numerous gifts, and as I summed up my first impressions, I felt genuinely touched by the hospitality I was shown.
I am sure that I will forever remember India for the warmth, hospitality, and friendliness of its people.
Miss India introduces the customs of the host country
Since I arrived at the hotel after midnight, I only had a few hours of sleep before I started getting ready for my first breakfast with the other girls.
As soon as I entered the restaurant, I noticed my team, the representatives of Europe, who warmly welcomed me and immediately introduced themselves to me. Considering that there are about 110 girls competing in the Miss World pageant, for easier organization we were divided into four continental groups: Asia and Oceania, America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa.
Breakfast was the perfect opportunity for me to try Indian food for the first time, prepared with great care and skill by the chefs of the Trident Hotel, and to make my first acquaintances. Among the first people I met was Nandini, Miss India, who proudly introduced me to the basic customs of her country.
After breakfast, we headed to rehearsal together, since the opening ceremony awaited us the next day, at which all the participants presented themselves in their national costumes.
For this important occasion, I decided on a creation by the designer Ivana Murišić, a luxurious red dress with gold embroidery on the chest, from a collection inspired by elements of Montenegrin folk costume. I was proud to be able to represent a part of the rich Montenegrin tradition through my design.
I spent almost the entire day rehearsing with the other girls, practicing the choreography and details of the ceremony. At the end of the day, exhausted but filled with excitement and beautiful impressions, we returned to the hotel.
Acquaintance with Kristina Piškova
The very next day, I started to get used to the dynamic rhythm of the competition and to make my first friendships with the girls from my group. After breakfast, we headed to the “Gachibowli Indoor” stadium in Hyderabad, where another rehearsal awaited us before the final event, the opening ceremony.
Upon entering the hall, spotlights illuminated us, and all the girls stared in disbelief at the impressive scenery prepared for this occasion. We were in a stadium covered with rich carpet, surrounded by high walls from which multi-colored lights sparkled. Behind us was a huge LED screen, while on the sides there were two more, on which the camera followed our every move. The stands above the walls would soon be filled with thousands of people who would watch the ceremony live.
After the rehearsal, we headed to the makeup room to get ready for the stage. When the girls changed into their national costumes, we were greeted by a veritable parade of colors, materials, cuts, and cultural motifs representing over 100 countries from around the world.
In a sea of extravagant costumes, the girls from America stood out in particular, wearing bulky, richly decorated costumes inspired by animals or nature, with wings, crystals, unique hats, and even lights that lit up during the performance. The Asian girls wore glamorous, often eccentric creations in bright colors, while the African girls wore unique outfits inspired by tribal costumes, with authentic dance moves.
The costumes of us European women may have been simpler, but no less striking. With a touch of elegance and moderation, we wore the motifs of our countries' cultural heritage with dignity.
The ceremony officially began with traditional Indian dance and music. We gathered backstage, each in our own group, ready for our moment. The Europe group was third in line and we were eagerly awaiting the call. When our moment finally came, the spotlights shone on us, and we were greeted by thunderous applause from the audience.
We strutted around in our costumes, waved to the audience, and smiled warmly, each eager to make the most of this first official presentation. And, most importantly, we really enjoyed ourselves.
At the very end, all the girls from all four continental groups came out on stage together, each holding their country's flag. The flags flew proudly as we sang together the official Miss World anthem, “Light the Passion, Share the Dream.”
The farewell from the stage was greeted with a standing ovation from the audience, and backstage we were greeted by a barrage of positive energy, compliments, and hugs.
On my way back to the hotel, I had the opportunity to meet Kristina Piškova, the current Miss World.
She amazed me with her natural beauty, warmth, and friendliness. I smiled at her and wished her good night, then headed to my room, exhausted but happy and ready for the new chapter that lay ahead.
Bonus video:
