Parvathy Omanakuttan waves to the audience after being crowned as the first runner up at the 2008 Miss World pageant held at Johannesburg, South Africa on December 13, 2008.

Miss World 2008 First Runner-up - Parvathy Omanakuttan

Miss World 2008 First Runner-up - Parvathy Omanakuttan

Parvathy was hot favorite for the crown, but she finally end up as the first runner of the beauty pageant. When Parvathy was asked to describe her journey by one of the judges, she answered quite confidently, “In India and South Africa people are warm and warm hearted. I felt at home in Johannesburg. Great leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi have influenced millions of people in both the countries.”

After the night, when Parvathy was contacted in morning, she sounded little disappointed as she says, “I expected to win, you know. Especially after the question and answer round. I don’t know what went wrong.”

But if you ask to us (Indians), you really did a good job. It has taken eight long years to India recognized at the event. To let you know, India has won the title five times before- Reita Faria (1966). Aishwarya Rai (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999) and Priyanka Chopra (2000).

More pics of Parvathy Omanakuttan at the event:

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