The Inspiring Story Behind Manushi Chhillar’s Historic Miss World Victory!

“Menstruation is a natural process and sanitary pads are a necessity, not a luxury,” Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar believes. Long before stepping onto the global stage, the young visionary committed herself to driving conversations around female wellness through her signature initiative, Project Shakti. Rather than merely embracing the glamor of the title after her big win, the 20-year-old choose to utilize her newfound platform to spearhead structural social change.

After winning the Miss World crown, Manushi set out to lead the Beauty with a Purpose tour with her Feminine Hygiene Awareness Campaign. A cause close to her heart, Manushi presented a social project and her thoughts on awareness about menstrual hygiene at the Miss World contest, which eventually won her the title.

Chhillar’s Project Shakti was a fundamental facet that helped her clinch the Miss World crown. She promoted menstrual hygiene and visited several villages to educate females about sanitary health, aligning perfectly with the Miss World motto, ‘Beauty with a Purpose.’ Her meaningful work and reign earned her special recognition from Miss World CEO Julia Morley during her final walk. With this, Manushi established herself as the first woman in pageant history to win the Miss World crown and Beauty with a Purpose title in the same year.

“It is a project with an aim. Shakti means “Power.” Through my project, I want to empower each and every woman,” she had said earlier while mentioning that her team had already covered over 20 villages in India. In addition to spreading awareness about menstrual hygiene, Project Shakti also featured the distribution of low-cost sanitary napkins and created employment opportunities by encouraging them to join the sanitary pad manufacturing unit in the area.

Starting in India, Manushi Chhillar’s thoughtful initiative expanded on a global level after she won Miss World 2017 and Beauty with a Purpose Award, reaching women and girls across continents with no-cost menstrual products and education.

What stands out throughout her journey is how she and her mission shattered barriers, proving that she made the most of her crown to create a real impact.

By Keerti Kadam