Miss Grand International is a beauty pageant based in Thailand. The first contest took place in November 2013.

While participants from India have won numerous Miss World and Miss Universe contests, 20-year-old Rachel Gupta made history, becoming the first Indian to win the Miss Grand International title.

Here are 5 things to know about the new Miss Grand International:

1. Early life

Born on Jan. 24, 2004, in Jalandhar, Punjab, Rachel Gupta is the daughter of Rajesh Aggarwal and Jennifer Gupta.

2. She started her career at 18

Gupta began her modeling career in 2022 at age 18 and was crowned Miss SuperTalent of the World that year in Paris. 

3. She had plans to attend an Ivy League institute

In an interview with The New Indian Express, Gupta mentioned that she was a straight-A student and had aspirations to join an Ivy League school.

4. Miss Grand India 2024

In May 2024, Rachel was named a finalist for Miss Grand India 2024 by the Glamanand Group. She was crowned on August 11, 2024, by outgoing titleholder Arshina Sumbul at Zee Studios, Jaipur.

5. Miss Grand International

Rachel was crowned Miss Grand International 2024 on October 25, succeeding Luciana Fuster of Peru. As Miss Grand International, she will serve as a global ambassador, advocating for peace and stability worldwide .