Nandini Gupta, a 21-year-old hailing from Kota, Rajasthan, is currently representing India at the Miss World 2025 pageant, vying for the coveted crown. The grand finale takes place today, May 31, 2025, in Hyderabad. After winning the Femina Miss India World 2023 title, she has emerged as India's beacon of hope to reclaim the title after Manushi Chhillar won the Miss World crown in 2017.
Nandini's journey is one of inspiration. Born in September 2003, she comes from a humble background in Kaithun, a small town near Kota. Her father is a farmer, and her mother is a homemaker. She also has a younger sister. Describing her upbringing, Nandini fondly recalls, "I was born in a small village. My father is a farmer, my mother is a homemaker, and I have a younger sister. We also have a little Labrador, Banjo. I grew up playing in the fields of mustard, millets, and black chickpeas."
She completed her schooling at Saint Paul's Senior Secondary School, Mala Road, and pursued a degree in Business Management from Lala Lajpat Rai College, Mumbai, driven by her passion for business and leadership.
Nandini's aspiration to become Miss India began in her childhood. "As a 10-year-old, I always wanted to compete in Femina Miss India because I wanted the crown for its beauty. But as I grew older, I realized it's so much more than the crown; it's a journey that only a few get to experience. A platform that gives you wings to fly high. Femina Miss India is a place that makes an ordinary girl extraordinary, while keeping her simplicity intact," she said.
Aligning with the beauty pageant's motto of "Beauty with a Purpose," Nandini launched Project Ekta, an initiative dedicated to bringing lasting change to the lives of people with special abilities. The project strives to foster respect, acceptance, and inclusion for individuals with special needs. She says, "Empathy, unity, and the power of inclusion, particularly for the differently-abled community. My Beauty with a Purpose initiative was born from a place of deep love and understanding." She was inspired by her uncle. She also advocates for exploited women weavers of Kota Doriya fabric.
Nandini finds inspiration in Ratan Tata, whose humanitarian work and charitable donations resonate deeply with her. Among beauty queens, Priyanka Chopra is a significant influence.
Nandini has already secured a spot in the Top 40 out of 108 contestants at Miss World 2025. The 72nd Miss World pageant is being held in India, only the second time the country has hosted the global event. The grand finale will be broadcast live from the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad.
Nandini's journey from a small village to the international stage embodies determination and the pursuit of dreams. As she competes for the Miss World 2025 crown, she carries the hopes of a nation, driven by her passion, purpose, and the belief that anything is possible.
