Miss World 2017: Wishes are pouring in for Manushi Chhillar, a 20-year-old medical student from Haryana. Photo: NDTV

New Delhi, India (BBN) – India’s Manushi Chhillar has been crowned Miss World 2017 and as the nation celebrates the Haryana girl’s beauty pageant win, the wishes are pouring in on Twitter.

The hashtags #ManushiChhillar and #MissWorld2017 have among the top Twitter trends in India since the news broke on Saturday night, reports NDTV.

Ms Chhillar’s win comes 17 years after Priyanka Chopra brought home the coveted title in the year 2000. The 20-year-old medical student from Haryana edged out top five contestants from England, France, Kenya and Mexico to win the crown in Sanya, China.

The Miss World beauty pageant saw participation from 118 countries.

Ms Chhillar’s Miss World win makes India the joint-most successful in the beauty pageant’s history. Both India and Venezuela are the two countries with most victories in the history of the Miss World pageant, now in its 67th edition.
Many people took to Twitter to congratulate Ms Chhillar on her Miss World win, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Miss World-turned-actor Priyanka Chopra.
Ms Chhillar tweeted her thanks, writing, “Thank you, everyone, for your constant love, support… This one’s for #India.”
Ms Chhillar impressed many with her answer during the Question and Answer round. She was asked which profession she thought deserved the highest salary and why.
Replying to the question, Ms Chhillar said it was not a question about a person’s salary and that a mother was worthy of the highest respect.
“I think a mother is of highest respect. I don’t think its just about cash but love and respect she gives to someone. She is the biggest inspiration in my life. Mother should get highest respect,” she said to applause.
According to Ms Chhillar’s profile on the Miss World website, Ms Chhillar aims to be a cardiac surgeon and has plans of opening non-profit hospitals in rural areas.
Ms Chhillar is the sixth Indian woman to win the coveted title of Miss World. Reita Faria was the first Indian woman to claim the title back in 1966, followed by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 1994, Diana Hayden in 1997, Yukta Mookhey in 1999 and Priyanka Chopra in 2000.
BBN/MMI/ANS