Meet Miss World contestants from subcontinent, no representative from Pakistan

STATE TIMES NEWS HYDERABAD: Beauties representing 110 countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh, are currently battling it out for the 72nd Miss World title in Hyderabad.

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But, with the military conflict between India-Pakistan in the last four days, Miss Pakistan is conspicuous by her absence.

A representative of the Miss World competition said this has nothing to do with the conflict.

"Pakistan has never participated in Miss World. In any case, you don't see -- except in rare cases -- Pakistan in international pageants in general," said Ashwani Shukla of Altair Media, the official publicist for Miss World.

He pointed out how in 2023, when Erica Robin represented Pakistan at the Miss Universe pageant for the first time in its 72-year history, it sparked outrage in the Islamic country, with many calling it "shameful".

This year, India is being represented by Nandini Gupta, who hails from Kota in Rajasthan.

Gupta is pitching for an inclusive world, and vows to make a difference in the lives of differently-abled through her 'Project Ekta'.