Behind the scenes of Miss World with Croatia’s Ema Helena Vičar

Ema Helena Vičar (Photo: PR Miss Hrvatske/ Miss World)

The 73rd Miss World competition was about far more than an evening of glamour and the crowning of a winner.

Held for the first time in Vietnam, the competition brought together 111 contestants from around the world for almost a month of challenges, travel, rehearsals, cultural experiences and official events, culminating in a spectacular open-air final in Nha Trang.

The event also marked the 75th anniversary of Miss World, bringing together generations of contestants and former winners for one of the organisation’s biggest celebrations.

Croatia was represented by Ema Helena Vičar, who did not advance to the Top 40 but achieved recognition through her environmental project, “Blue Planet: A Purpose for Life”, which was selected among the leading Beauty With a Purpose projects in Europe.

(Photo: PR Miss Hrvatske/ Miss World)

The initiative focuses on protecting the Adriatic Sea and marine biodiversity, with particular attention to abandoned fishing gear, known as “ghost nets”, which can pose a serious threat to marine life.

Through the Provir x Krie initiative, in cooperation with the Ljepšu Našu platform, Vičar presented Croatia’s marine conservation message to an international audience.

(Photo: PR Miss Hrvatske/ Miss World)

“I am very proud of this achievement because this project represents what I genuinely believe in and want to communicate further,” Vičar said, adding that she was particularly pleased that the importance of protecting Croatia’s sea and marine biodiversity had reached an international audience.

(Photo: PR Miss Hrvatske/ Miss World)

Miss World contestants competed in a series of challenges designed to showcase different abilities and interests, including Beauty With a Purpose, People’s Choice, Top Model, Talent, Sports Challenge, Head-to-Head and Multimedia Challenge.

Puerto Rico’s Suil Anyelina Pagán won the Sports Challenge and secured the first direct place in the Top 40, while England’s Grace Richardson won the Talent competition with her performance of “Over the Rainbow”.

Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty won Beauty With a Purpose and went on to finish as the second runner-up.

(Photo: PR Miss World)

The competition progressed through the Top 40, Top 20, Top 12 and Top 6, with Eritrea, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, Spain and South Africa reaching the final six.

The final took place outdoors before an expected audience of around 20,000 people, with a large production featuring LED screens, lighting, sound and lasers.

(Photo: Miss World)

Away from the main stage, contestants experienced an intensive schedule of early mornings, long journeys, rehearsals, filming, interviews and photo sessions. There was also time for friendships, cultural exchanges and informal moments backstage.

The “Dances of the World” segment celebrated the diversity of the contestants, bringing together traditional costumes and dances representing different countries.

The final crown went to Joheirry Mola Domínguez of the Dominican Republic, ending a 44-year wait for the country to win the Miss World title. Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern was first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty finished third.

(Photo: PR Miss Hrvatske/ Miss World)

Mola Domínguez is a teacher, journalist and social worker and founded “Voice of Tomorrow”, a project providing English education to children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

(Photo: PR Miss Hrvatske/ Miss World)

As the lights went down in Nha Trang, the month-long event left behind more than a crown. For the contestants, it also meant new international friendships, shared experiences and stories from a competition increasingly centred on purpose, personal development, culture and social impact alongside beauty.

(Photo: PR Miss Hrvatske/ Miss World)

For Croatia, Vičar’s environmental project provided an opportunity to place the protection of the Adriatic and its marine life on an international stage.