Opal Suchata Chuangsri made history as the first Thai woman to win the Miss World crown. She was crowned on Saturday in Hyderabad, India. Opal had earlier won Miss World Thailand 2025 on April 22. A week later, she traveled to Hyderabad to compete in the 72nd Miss World pageant. At 21, Opal says she is still absorbing the reality of her win.
“It feels like a dream. It’s so unreal,” Opal said. “I was shocked when I was crowned. Now, I think about how happy the people of Thailand will be. This is our country’s first crown. It is a big milestone for me and for Thailand.”
Opal described what the crown means to her: “It marks another successful step for Thailand on the international stage. It also shows how I tackle social issues. This crown connects to basic healthcare for women. It helps my Meaningful Beauty project. My voice is getting louder, and my spotlight is getting brighter.”
Using Platform to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness
Opal plans to use her Miss World title to raise awareness about breast cancer through her campaign “Opal For Her.” Her efforts stem from her own experience. At 16, she had lumps removed from her breast. That event shocked her and those around her.
“When I had lumps removed, I could not compete in pageants. However, I began telling people about it because it is rare in someone so young,” she said. “I was so shocked by what happened to me. I wanted to speak out.”
Through pageants, Opal discovered the power of her voice. “Before this, I was just a normal girl with no platform,” she said. “I could only raise awareness among those close to me. When I entered the pageant, I had a bigger chance to speak out.”
Opal wants to clear up misconceptions about breast cancer. “Many people think breast cancer occurs only after 30 or 40. That is not true. Also, people think cancer is incurable. If caught early, cancer is curable. These are the things I want to correct.”
Focus Beyond Acting
Winning Miss World can open doors to acting, including in Bollywood. But Opal remains focused on breast cancer awareness. “I am still far from the industry,” she said. “Since I was crowned in India, maybe there will be an opportunity later. But I will work on it after my Miss World duties are over.”
She added, “Winning the crown means responsibility and opportunity. I make sure to prioritize things that need to be done. I want to address social issues that need global attention.”
Challenging Pageant Misconceptions
Some believe beauty pageants set unrealistic standards and devalue true beauty. Opal disagrees. “At Miss World, each of us looks different. There is no single standard for appearance. People know that each of us is unique. We must tell the younger generation to find beauty in themselves. There is no need to force ourselves to meet certain standards.”
She stressed the value of self-improvement: “We should look at ourselves and set better standards than yesterday. We all have flaws, and now we know imperfection is perfection.”
Looking Forward to Homecoming
Opal is eager to return home. “I am still working on travel plans. Hopefully, I will be home soon. My family is going crazy right now. I am so excited to go home.”
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