Colombo, May 30 — In a groundbreaking achievement for Sri Lanka, Anudi Gunasekara has carved her name into Miss World history by securing the First Runner-Up title from Asia in the Multimedia Challenge at the 72nd Miss World Festival, held in the vibrant city of Telangana, India.
Anudi’s exceptional digital performance propelled her into the Top 20 global finalists, making her the first-ever Sri Lankan contestant to reach such heights in the Multimedia category a historic milestone that highlights the growing presence of Sri Lankan talent on the global stage.
Elevating her success even further, Anudi was selected among the Top 8 global winners of the Multimedia Challenge, chosen from a competitive pool of 108 contestants worldwide. Her performance reflected not just beauty, but a compelling digital presence and storytelling skill that resonated with audiences and judges alike.
Her achievement also contributed to another first for Sri Lanka: a place in the Top 20 of three fast-track events Talent, Head-to-Head Challenge, and Multimedia for the very first time in the nation’s Miss World journey. The moment is being celebrated as a milestone of national pride and a symbol of progress in Sri Lankan pageantry.
In the highly competitive Asia and Oceania region, the Top 5 finalists in the Multimedia category included contestants from New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. Thailand ultimately took the top spot, with Anudi graciously extending her congratulations on their well-earned victory.
The Multimedia Challenge has become a modern pillar of the Miss World competition, recognizing contestants for their ability to connect, inspire, and influence via digital storytelling. Through engaging content that championed social causes, shared behind-the-scenes insights, and sparked meaningful conversations, Anudi impressed judges across multiple platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and the official Miss World app.
Judging criteria included both pre-pageant digital campaigns conducted in their home countries and real-time engagement throughout the festival in India. Anudi’s innovative content and authentic storytelling allowed her to shine in a field that increasingly values influence and impact over mere glamour.
Her trailblazing success has become a beacon of inspiration for aspiring Sri Lankan beauty queens, proving that passion, creativity, and digital fluency can elevate national representation on a global platform. Anudi Gunasekara’s Miss World Multimedia triumph is not just a personal victory, it is a defining moment in Sri Lanka’s international pageant legacy.
