India is all set to host Miss World 2023 in December after a gap of 27 years. Miss India World 2022 Sini Shetty and Miss World 2022 Karolina Bielawska announced the same at a press conference, though the dates have not been finalised yet
Amid the news of Miss World 2023, Indians are recalling Miss World 1996, which was hosted by India under the leadership of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s firm ABCL which later went bankrupt
The year was 1996. Two years earlier, India had won both the Miss World 1994 and Miss Universe titles as Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen were crowned respectively. Hence, there was a huge craze around Miss World 1996 in India
Miss World 1996 was held in Bengaluru. Several people, mostly led by right-wing groups, started protesting against the beauty pageant citing a threat to Indian culture. Some of the protestors found such beauty contests to be degrading to women and the Indian culture
As a result, the swimsuit round which was introduced by Miss World’s erstwhile publicity director Eric Morley had to be moved to Seychelles. Meanwhile, several left-wing groups also started opposing the pageant citing issues like unemployment and poverty in the country
India did end up hosting Miss World 1996 with Greek model Irene Skliva winning the title. But, due to the protests and the Seychelles move, Amitabh Bachchan’s ABCL company, which was already facing financial losses, went into further debt
At that time, Amitabh Bachchan who had established himself with Bollywood blockbusters like Shahenshah, Agneepath, Hum, and Khuda Gawah, faced a series of box office flops such as Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi, Jaadugar, Toofan, and Main Azaad Hoon
To add to Amitabh Bachchan's woes, the controversy-riddled Miss World dealt another financial blow to ABCL leading to its closure. This left him with a huge debt of Rs 90 crore against a net worth of Rs 60.52 crore in 1999
Now after 27 years, India is all set to again host Miss World 2023. Femina Miss India World 2022 Sini Shetty will be representing India this time. As of date, India has won the Miss World title six times- Manushi Chhillar (2017), Priyanka Chopra (2000), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Diana Hayden (1997), Aishwarya Rai (1994) and Reita Faria (1966)