India’s Kanishtha Dhankhar fails to win Miss World crown

For eleventh year running, India’s hopes of winning the Miss World crown at the beauty pageant was quashed on Sunday when Miss India Kanishtha Dhankhar failed to make it even to the top 25.

The 61st Miss World beauty pageant was held at Earl’s Court in London. Miss Venezuela Ivian Sarcos was crowned the new Miss World. Miss Philippines Gwendoline Ruais emerged the first runner-up and Miss Puerto Rico Amanda Perez became the second runner-up.

The jury included former Miss World winners -- Cindy Breakspeare (1976), Nigeria Agbani Darego (2001), Zhang Zilin (2007) and Kaiane Aldorino (2009).

The pageant kicked off Sunday evening with a dynamic performance by British street dance troupe Diversity, followed by the introduction of the Miss World contestants.

Alas, India’s Miss India-World Kanishtha Dhankhar failed to make much impression. She walked in creations by designers Rohit Bal and Sabyasachi Mukherjee. The last time an Indian beauty won the Miss World tiara was way back in 2000 when Priyanka Chopra won the coveted crown.

A few months back, India faced disappointment even at Miss Universe beauty pageant in Brazil when Vasuki Sunkavalli failed to make it to even the final 16.