KUALA LUMPUR: Finishing third at Miss World 2026 and being crowned Miss Asia at the finals in Nha Trang, Vietnam, last night was a special gift for all Malaysians, says Taanusiya Chetty.
The 26-year-old Kuala Lumpur native, affectionately known as Taanu, described the continuous support and prayers from Malaysians as the driving force behind her success in matching a feat achieved 28 years ago.
“Thank you to all Malaysians who supported me throughout this competition in Vietnam. I am very grateful to make history a second time for our beloved country.
“Twenty-eight years ago, Malaysia also won second runner-up. After so long, this is another historic moment for our country,” she said when contacted today.
At the climax of the finals, Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic was crowned Miss World 2026, while Elisabeth Reynes Alabern of Spain secured second place.
Taanusiya qualified for the top six after winning the Beauty With A Purpose (BWAP) segment, edging out Zimbabwe’s candidate Brunette Makanyiso.
The core charity-based segment focuses on contestants championing humanitarian, educational, and healthcare projects. Following her win, Taanusiya will join Dominguez on a global tour to carry out humanitarian duties.
Dressed in a pink gown by Vietnamese designer Minh Tuan Couture, Taanusiya impressed the judges during the question-and-answer round with her response on environmental protection.
Drawing on her experience as a teacher, she highlighted the importance of cultivating environmental awareness from an early age through tree planting, teaching children growth, patience, and responsibility.
“I want to be the sort of teacher who offers students, no matter their background, the seeds to plant that take time to grow. When you do that, you will influence many others around the world,” she said.
Her performance drew widespread praise from beauty pageant fans locally and abroad. Her third-place finish matched Malaysia’s best achievement set by Lina Teoh in 1998.
Taanusiya previously gained attention by speaking fluently in Malay, English, Mandarin, and Tamil during the Head-to-Head Challenge for Asia and Oceania on Aug 23. She also actively promotes community initiatives through Be The Change Malaysia. Strait Times
