logo
Recalling Opal: The heart of Miss World 2025

Recalling Opal: The heart of Miss World 2025

Hans India01-06-2025
I still remember the first time I met Miss Thailand Opal Suchata Chuangsri for an exclusive interview for Hans India. She was confident, radiant, and yet so grounded. Long before she became Miss World 2025, she carried something more powerful than beauty: purpose.
Her story stayed with me. At just 16, Opal underwent surgery to remove two large benign breast tumours — one 8 centimeters, the other 10. It was a defining moment. She said, 'I was waiting outside the operating room all alone. That's when I realised I had to live my life on my own — and live it well.' That pain became her power. By the time she stepped onto the Miss World stage, Opal was already a force for change. Through Opal for Her, she brought breast cancer awareness into the spotlight.
Her podcast 'Braveheart' shared the voices of survivors and health leaders across Thailand.
Her partnership with Prima Jewellery led to the Daobrak collection — beautiful pieces that now fund screenings and treatments for women in need.
But what struck me most was her sincerity. During the pageant in India, she spoke about her stay in Telangana. 'The kindness I received in Telangana was overwhelming,' she said. 'The people, the culture, the warmth — it felt like home. It's something I'll always carry with me.'
When the crown was placed on her head, it wasn't just a win for Thailand — it was a win for every woman who ever felt unseen. And in true Opal fashion, her message remains:
'You are not alone. In Thailand, we say cancer is afraid of happiness — so keep smiling, keep laughing, and keep living.'
Opal didn't just wear the crown — she redefined what it means.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BRS urges Telangana HC to step in over recurring food poisoning incidents in residential schools
BRS urges Telangana HC to step in over recurring food poisoning incidents in residential schools

The Hindu

time5 days ago

  • The Hindu

BRS urges Telangana HC to step in over recurring food poisoning incidents in residential schools

HYDERABAD The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has urged the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court to take suo motu cognisance of the recurring incidents of food poisoning in residential schools across Telangana. The appeal comes in the wake of 111 students from the Jyotiba Phule Backward Classes Welfare Residential School for Girls in Uyyalawada, Nagarkurnool district, being hospitalised on Sunday. BRS leader T. Harish Rao, who visited the school along with party leaders Marri Janardhan Reddy, C. Laxma Reddy, Guvvala Balaraju and others, interacted with students and parents at the hospital. He expressed concern that such a serious incident had occurred in Chief Minister Reddy's home district, despite the CM also holding the Education portfolio. 'When the government can spend ₹1 lakh for a meal during the Miss World beauty pageant, why can't it provide safe food to students in residential schools,' Rao questioned. He further criticised the government for what he termed as a political vendetta, asking if erasing the legacy of former CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao meant neglecting students to the extent of illness and even death. Not a day goes by without distressing news about residential school students, he said, adding that while the government has been talking about integrated schools for the past 20 months, not a single one has yet been established. Rao said that repeated incidents of food poisoning in government residential schools were eroding public trust, leading to a drop in admissions as parents were increasingly reluctant to send their children to such institutions. He urged the Chief Minister to introspect and take immediate steps to improve conditions, at the very least, by ensuring hygienic living environments and safe, nutritious food for students. He also interacted with students at the school and blamed the ongoing issues on the government's negligence and administrative failure, pointing out that such incidents have been frequently reported across the State over the past 20 months. He alleged that authorities rushed students to the hospital only after learning about the BRS team's visit, and in some cases, children were treated under trees on the school campus itself, making them hold IV fluid bottles in their hands. He further claimed that over 100 students have died in residential schools during this period, even as he underscored the urgent need for intervention.

"Telangana Rising 2047" aims to make Hyderabad hub for medical, health tourism
"Telangana Rising 2047" aims to make Hyderabad hub for medical, health tourism

India Gazette

time02-07-2025

  • India Gazette

"Telangana Rising 2047" aims to make Hyderabad hub for medical, health tourism

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 2 (ANI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has stated that medical tourism will be included as one of the priority sectors in the 'TelanganaRising 2047' document, which the State Government is preparing, as stated in the release. According to the release, Hyderabad has already become a centre of excellence in medical care, and patients from various countries visit the city for medical treatment. The Chief Minister stated that the 'Telangana Rising' document will focus more on developing the historical city of Hyderabad as a hub for medical and health tourism in the country. Stating that the government is moving forward with plans to provide free medical care and quality education to the poor, CM Revanth Reddy said the government has already earmarked Rs 11,500 crore funds for the development of the medical sector and Rs 21,500 crore for education in the current financial year. Doctor Nori Dattatreya has also been appointed as a cancer care consultant to the government. The CM emphasised that the government hospitals should compete with private corporate hospitals, and the doctors should serve in government hospitals for at least one month as a social responsibility. The Chief Minister said that the State government is already providing free medical treatment to the poor up to Rs 10 lakhs, and there is a need to take more precautions to prevent health problems. For this, the government is planning to create a health profile card for women in self-help groups. The health profile cards will have a unique ID. Appealing to AIG Hospital Chairman Dr Nageshwar Reddy to join as a partner with the government in the endeavour to strengthen the medical and health sectors, CM Revanth Reddy said that it is a matter of pride that patients from 66 countries are coming for treatment at AIG Hospital. 'Dr Nageshwar Reddy has brought laurels to Hyderabad and Telangana, and he deserves India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna,' said the Telangana CM. The CM said he will pursue the centre to recognise the noted doctor's services and present the prestigious award to him. The visit of Miss World contestants to the renowned hospital showcased the advancements in medical care in Telangana on a global scale. Listing out initiatives taken by the government to strengthen medical care, the Chief Minister said that the family doctor system once existed, but specialist doctor services are now in high demand. Government hospitals are already under construction in different parts of the State and the works for the new Osmania hospital are under progress. A total of 7000 additional beds will be available after the completion of all new hospital building works, the CM said. Since Hyderabad has become a hub of IT and emerging healthcare services provider in the world, the Chief Minister said that government is holding talks with the union government to increase direct flight connectivity between Middle East countries and Hyderabad. More air connectivity will help Hyderabad to develop further. (ANI)

Coast ready to green western Ghats region
Coast ready to green western Ghats region

Hans India

time04-06-2025

  • Hans India

Coast ready to green western Ghats region

Mangaluru: Following the alarming degeneration of green cover over the coast due to various infrastructure projects including the Nethravati diversion project (touted as Yettinahole), the development of three national highways, power lines and petroleum and chemical pipelines the forest department has begun bringing green cover back to its pristine self in urban, rural, and western ghats area all along the coast. Over 1.5 crore saplings have been readied at 16 major nurseries in three coastal districts of the forest department. Out of this at least 5 per cent have been reserved for tree planting projects taken up as the corporate social responsibility of various corporate bodies like MRPL, OMPL, SEZ, UPCL, Ports at Mangaluru, Udupi and Karwar, vital installations like Navy and Nuclear Power Corporation Limited at Kaiga in Uttara Kannada. In addition, 7-8 per cent will be planted under the Koti Vriksha project of the government which the schools and educational institutions execute and the rest will be planted by the forest department in various reserve forests, western ghats pockets, wildlife divisions, national parks that borders Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu. 'We know due to many infrastructure projects we have lost so much green cover, but we have readied the nurseries in the forest department to plant four trees for every tree lost during the project execution in the western ghats and the coastal region. It is not only compensatory forest development but also extensive forest development coupled with a concentration in the areas where the trees were cut' forest officials told Hans India. The forest department officials in three districts say that all the local and western Ghats endemic species have been developed. Range Forest Officers of 16 ranges across the coastal districts told Hans India that all the greening of the Western Ghats is happening on the seaside face of the Western Ghats the department has over 70 small, medium and big nurseries of Mangaluru range Forest minister of Karnataka Eshwar Khandre told Hans India that 'many flowering, shade-giving, berry yielding and tree species have been selected, which are in fact included in the plant and tree diversity of the Western Ghats. 28 species of saplings including Kakke, Holay Dasavala, Rosi Owlanda, Nerale (blueberries) Ranje, Ashoka, Jack, wild jack, wild Mangoes, Mahagoni, Pepul, wild fig have been selected for planting in the forests, The world environment day is a special day for the entire world, we in Karnataka government are taking it to the next level, knowing well that we have one of 18 biodiversity spots in the world in the western ghats' the minister told. Officials at the New Delhi-based Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA) told Hans India that the time has come to consciously protect plant diversity and not get lost in the melee of commercial propagation of plants in unlikely regions. Ever since agriculture came to be practised for the survival of Human beings 20,000 years back, plant diversity has been the object of study. Modern scientific findings have established that there are 49,000 species, out of which 3900 species have been used for human consumption and 3000 for Medicinal purposes. But in pursuit of developing cities and concrete jungles, we have destroyed many species, but now the time has come for us to protect the ones we are left with, fortunately, India is one among the 17 countries that share top plant diversity and our farmers have protected it to the maximum extent possible the plant scientists at the Authority told. The most happening areas in this unique green drive were Reserve Forests like Kanakamajalu, Kannadka and Periyabaney where the department has identified several types of bamboo and canes in over 75 hectares. All bamboo varieties are good for soil conservation, rain, several species of wildlife habitat and also for commercial value. The Kanakamajalu range forest nursery has readied 2,75,000 saplings of western ghats endemic varieties out of which 40,000 will be reserved for public distribution.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store