Miss World TT 2022 Aché Abrahams is the new Miss World Americas and the Caribbean after getting into the top four of the Miss World international pageant.
Abrahams, 24, Lesego Chombo of Botswana, Krystyna Pyszkova of Czech Republic and Yasmina Zaytoun of Lebanon were the top four contestants and Continental Queens at the 71st Miss World pageant at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India on Saturday.
Miss Czech Republic won the crown while Miss Lebanon was first runner up.
On the official Miss World Facebook page scores of people showed their support for Abrahams with the national flag emblem and social media feeds were flooded with congratulatory messages after the competition.
After the interview segment, the contestants were asked to convince Shark Tank India why they should be Miss World.
Abrahams said the people of TT acknowledged their similarities and celebrated their differences. She said they saw the beauty in diversity and promoted inclusion so she would like to be part of the Miss World organisation and work with it as she believed the organisation and TT were similar in that way.
"When I stand here I represent 1.4 million people of TT, and what I can offer Miss World is the mindset of my people. In India, you say...' the world is one family.' In sweet TT we say 'May every creed and race find an equal place.' The way I live my life is with that motto, with that mantra.
“I believe Miss World has a similar mantra. I believe when you have compassion and understanding for differences you can really make a difference in the world and work hand-in-hand to create a bright future."
Speaking to Sunday Newsday from India via WhatsApp after the pageant, fashion designer and franchise director of Miss World TT Charu Lochan Dass expressed her pride in Abrahams’ performance.
[caption id="attachment_1069295" align="alignnone" width="1024"] From left, Miss TT World Aché Abrahams, Lesego Chombo of Botswana, Krystyna Pyszkova of Czech Republic and Yasmina Zaytoun of Lebanon were the top four contestants and Continental Queens at the 71st Miss World pageant at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India on March 9. - Photo courtesy Miss World[/caption]
“How amazing! Aché placed in the top four out of 112 countries! She did extremely well. She did TT very very proud. We’re so happy that she put us back on the map. She’s worked extremely hard and it paid off.”
She added that as Continental Queen for The Americas and the Caribbean, Abrahams and the other Continental Queens will be travelling with the winner for the next year doing humanitarian work and supporting Beauty with a Purpose projects throughout the world.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for her. So many doors will open for her. We could not ask for anything better. She’s done extremely well and we’re super proud of her.”
The only Trinidadian to win the Miss World pageant was Giselle Jeanne-Marie Laronde-West in 1986. Michelle Khan and Gabrielle Walcott both placed third at the 45th and 58th editions of the Miss World contest in