Miss World Bangladesh Jessia Islam has been selected for the final round of the Miss World beauty pageant being held in China. Jessia won the Head to Head Challenge and advanced to the top forty among 118 contestants.

She was included in the group six in the Head to Head Challenge, where viewers are prompted to vote for one of the six contestants featured in the episode.

Jessia yesterday wrote in a Facebook post, “By the grace of Almighty Allah and prayers of my beloved friends, family and country, I have been selected for top 40 in Miss World 2017 and winner of head to head challenge. Keep me in your prayers.”

The final round of the Miss World competition is scheduled for November 18 in Sanya, China. Jessia is participating in the competition in different categories including Top Model, Best in Talent, Beauty with Purpose and Miss Multimedia among others, representing Bangladesh.

Miss World is the oldest running international beauty pageant. Bangladesh is not a regular contestant in the pageant and has never reached the final rounds of this prestigious competition. This is the first time in the history of the competition that a representative from Bangladesh has reached the final rounds of the competition. Bangladesh last competed in 2001, in which Tabassum Ferdous Shaon represented the country.  

The participants will be evaluated under various categories as per their knowledge and potentiality along with beauty. According to the organisers, the final preparation is underway for the final event and local and international artists will be performing during the grand event.

Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico will crown her successor as the Miss World 2017 at the end of the event.