The welcome dinner for Miss World 2025 contestants held at Chowmohalla Palace was a letdown — it didn’t meet international standards. A VIP guest present at the dinner explains what went awry
When an invitation to a gala dinner at Chowmohalla Palace arrived — part of the official welcome for Miss World 2025 contestants — a VIP guest saw it as a must-attend event. “We thought it would be a culturally rich evening,” she said. But the evening played out quite differently. The couple felt they should have given it a miss.
As the couple walked in, they were ushered to a round table, where they were joined by two contestants. “The setup was baffling. Firstly, why was the dinner held in a section behind the Chowmohalla Palace, rather than in its grander, central area?” she asks. Seating arrangements were equally puzzling. Some tables had two contestants, who were seated alongside builders, owners of pharmaceutical companies, middle-aged bureaucrats, and even a judge accompanied by five family members! Idea was to interact with the guests.
Contestants, many in their early 20s, were seen making strained conversation with guests often twice their age. “There was no thought to age compatibility or relevance,” she says. While organisers may have hoped for a cultural exchange, what played out was awkward. “Some guests were taking selfies without asking, some simply stared. It was uncomfortable,” she adds.
One VIP brought his five family members though it wasn’t a family invite. “Though seat numbers were allotted, our folks occupied whatever seats they fancied after taking a close look at the contestants,” she adds.
When dinner was announced — a buffet — the queue was long and confusing. “We gave up and returned to our table,” the guest says. Eventually, food was brought to them through a helpful acquaintance, and they ensured their tablemates were also served.
She ensured that the two beauty contestants also got their food served on the table. “The two contestants sitting with us thanked us profusely while appearing confused throughout. We had hardly anything to talk to them about, as our work has nothing to do with fashion pageants, etc.,” she admits, adding, “Every contestant should have been tied with a young educated local female as a chaperon. They were confused, but on their best behaviour, our janta wasn’t,” she says.
To sum it up, she says the event was poorly managed, there was no script, there was no execution of ideas, the participants were not briefed about the event, and the guest list could have been better without wildcard entries. “The West are particular about all these aspects; we are not at all capable of hosting such global events. I’m not at all surprised with the outburst of Miss England,” she sums up.
Sponsorship woes
The government was to raise Rs 27 crore through sponsorships, Miss World was meant to raise the same amount which unfortunately did not come to fruition. So perhaps, in the hope of raising funds (donations), famous builders and businessmen were sent out VIP invites and their tables had two contestants also seated with them. Miss England, many contestants felt embarrassed and awkward after being taken to places that had nothing to do with the pageant, which perhaps Miss England felt was inappropriate.
