India's Parvathy Omanakuttan was adjudged the first runner-up at the Miss World pageant in Johannesburg on Saturday on 13 December 2008 evening. She impressed the jury with her looks and quick wit and was one the five finalists out of the 109 contestants at the SandtonConvention Center. However, she was finally beaten by Miss Russia. Kseniya Sukhinovia from Russia won the crown, which according to many was unfair, citing that Parvathy deserved to win the crown Miss Trinidad and Tobago was named the second runner-up. The others in contention in the final five were Miss South Africa and Miss Angola.India had high hopes on 21-year-old Parvathy to win the crown that last came to the country in 2000

Answers to Judges

Her reply to the question, "What does being in South Africa mean to you?" was that it was like home to her. She drew comparison to the fact the people of South Africa were extremely hospitable like Indians and also that both the nations have given such respected leaders like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi who have influenced the lives of millions. She added that both the nations shared such a wonderful diverse culture that made them both similar.

During the question-and-answer rounds in the finals, she was asked, "The rate of divorce in India is on a rise. Is Western influence the cause of this or something else?" Parvathy gave the reply "Divorces are not a result of Western influence. At the end of the day, it is we who decide our worth. Marriage is not when one completes the other but is when both share their completeness."

• Age:20 yrs

• Height:5' 8.5"

• Stats:32-27-36

• Occupation: South Indian Model and Beauty Queen

Parvathy was born on 13th July 1987 at Kottayam, Kerala , but now lives in Mumbai. She is an athletic model. Her hobbies include: listening to music, dancing, glass painting, reading and playing basketball & badminton. Her name is often misspelled as Pavarthi Omanakuttan or Parvati Omanakuttan. She follows the lineage set by many Malayalis in the history of the pageant like Shweta Vijay (Femina Miss India Earth 2003), Annie Thomas (Femina Miss India World 1998), Nafisa Joseph (Femina Miss India Universe 1997), Mini Menon (Femina Miss India Asia Pacific 1996) and Shweta Menon (Femina Miss India 1994 3rd Runner Up).