Colombo, February 1: (Daily Mirror) – Sri Lanka’s Ishadi Amanda has made history by securing the title of First Runner-Up at the 40th Mrs. World pageant, held in Las Vegas, USA.
South Africa’s Tshego Gaelae crowned Mrs World .Thailand’s Ploy Panperm secured the second runner-up position.
Amanda, who was crowned Mrs. Sri Lanka World at the national finals in Colombo last month, represented Sri Lanka in the competition.
She was one of two Sri Lankans competing, with Nishi Ranathunga, who holds dual Sri Lankan and New Zealand citizenship, representing New Zealand.
Ranathunga, the reigning Mrs. New Zealand World, previously earned titles such as Mrs. Woman of the Universe New Zealand 2022 and Mrs. Universe New Zealand 2022 Second Runner-Up before her Mrs. World success.
South African model Tshego Gaelae has been crowned the winner of the 40th Mrs World pageant, held in Las Vegas, USA.
Sri Lanka’s Ishadi Amanda was named the first runner-up, while
Celebrating her win, Gaelae expressed her gratitude in an Instagram post, writing, “To God Be The Glory. Thank you so much for the love and support, I am beyond grateful and elated! My beautiful South Africa, the crown is coming Home.”
Mrs World is the first beauty pageant for married women, conceived in 1984.
The organisation that supported her journey, Mrs South Africa, also hailed the achievement in a social media post, stating, “From Soweto to Vegas and now the World, @mrsworldpageant The Crown is Coming Home! Thank you to everyone who supported our Queen on her incredible Journey.
“Thank you to the @mrsworldpageant organisation and judges for everything you do, and for seeing our queen and her brilliance. What an honour to have a South African queen as the 40th Anniversary Mrs World, and first ever Black Mrs World.”
Gaelae’s triumph comes in the wake of intensified beauty pageant rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria.
In 2024, Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina made history as the first Nigerian and West African to finish as the first runner-up at the Miss Universe 2024 competition held in Mexico City in November.
Adetshina, who also won the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, faced scrutiny over her South African citizenship, a controversy that led to her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant.
Mrs World International is a celebration of womanhood through an equal opportunity platform for married women to showcase their talent and beauty to the world. A one of its kind events, it offers a chance to aspiring ladies to take the plunge and get global recognition.
The competition encourages women from all walks of life to embrace their beauty, their values and ethnicity and stand tall amidst a global stage. It is an occasion for all those women who have dared to dream big.
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