The officials are going ahead with the Miss World Pageant after a review of the security situation on Friday, 9 May.
Published May 10, 2025 | 11:22 AM ⚊ Updated May 10, 2025 | 11:30 AM
Miss World contestants arrive in Hyderabad. (Telangana Tourism/ X)
Synopsis: Amid rising India-Pakistan tensions, Hyderabad is set to host the Miss World 2025 pageant, beginning 10 May. While the Telangana government is minimising its involvement, it is providing security and logistical support. Critics, including opposition leaders and right-wing groups, call for postponement. However, officials affirm safety measures are in place, stressing the event is privately organised and largely indoors.
It is a contradiction in terms. In the north, guns are booming across the India-Pakistan border. The entire nation is tense over what course the escalation of conflict between the two nuclear powers will take.
But in the south, in Hyderabad, unruffled by the tensions which have reached a crescendo, the 20-day Miss World 2025 pageant is all set to kick off on Saturday, 10 May evening.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, representing Telangana government, will be inaugurating the glam and glitz show at Gachibowli Stadium. The government seems to be not bothered about the IPL cancelling rest of its season and directions from the centre to ensure there is no disruption in its citizen services.
Hyderabad has overnight become a microcosm of the entire world with contestants from 116 nations descending on Telangana capital, like the shower of the cosmic dust. As Homer’s mythical sirens of the world set the ramp aflame, the jamboree that accompanies it is expected to drown the blaring police sirens, warning the impending airstrikes in various cities close to the border.
The officials are going ahead with the event after a review of the security situation on Friday, 9 May. The meeting decided that the tension across the border may not pose much threat to the pageant though the police have been asked to keep a close watch on the evolving situation and assess what it would imply for Hyderabad and the rest of Telangana.
Though the officials do not admit it, the event would be by and large a low key affair, with minimum government participation. Speaking to South First, one official involved in organising the event, said: “Except the inauguration today and the events that are planned outside Hyderabad, which we are sponsoring, there will not be much participation of the government. It is essentially private event for which the state government is acting as a facilitator.”
Another official said: “We are providing security and logistic support. Whether to organise the event or not rests with the organisers. As long as they want to conduct the show, we will support them. Just as the way IPL has decided to cancel rest of its season, it is for the organisation that is organising the pageant to take a call.”
“If the situation gets out of hand and there is a clear direction from the Centre, the state government would of course intervene to follow whatever has to be done. As all the events are indoor shows unlike the IPL sponsored cricket matches, there seems to not much reason to worry,” the official added.
The government, probably to avoid criticism, has decided not to host the dinner it has planned to the contestants at Chowmahalla Palace though their visit is on course.
“We are not hosting the dinner as we had intended to. It would be organisers who would take care of the dinner. The contestants would like to see around and learn about the history of Chowmahalla Palace. They would then have dinner there. But the government would have nothing to do with it,” the official said.
There is however an intense social media campaign going on against the conduct of the Miss World pageant. The microblogging site X is swarming with posts against the pageant with various groups and individuals voicing concern over the insensitive nature of the government to the rapidly escalating tensions across the border.
The criticism began with the massacre at Pahalgam which led to military tensions between India and Pakistan reaching a flashpoint and the subsequent Operation Sindoor.
Organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have publicly opposed the event. They are asking the Telangana government to cancel the pageant. Their social media posts lash out at the state for hosting the beauty pageant during a time of national security concerns.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader Kalvakuntla Kavitha also has been vocal on X. She demanded that Telangana government should postpone the Miss World 2025 contest, citing the tense situation across the border as reasons for postponement of the event.
She said: “I sincerely urge the Telangana government to consider postponing the 72nd Miss World event in light of the rising tensions between India and Pakistan. At this time, our focus must remain on national unity, peace, and security.”
While many are seeking cancellation of the pageant, there are however, some voices on X and in media defending the event, arguing that the event showcases Telangana’s culture globally, kindling tourism.
The Telangana government has responded to concerns by tightening security, banning drones in 10 areas of Hyderabad, and ensuring coordination across departments to manage the event safely. “There is no need to worry too much. We will take steps as warranted from time to time,” the official said.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
