thecrowncompetitors

A native of Mulund, Mumbai, Mookhey was crowned Miss World in December 1999 at the Olympia theatre in London. Mookhey's family is from northern India, but she and her family lived in the Middle East until Mookhey was seven years of age. The Mookhey family migrated back to Mumbai (then Bombay) in June 1986. Mookhey's mother Aruna runs a grooming workshop in Mumbai, while her father was a clothing company executive. Mookhey studied zoology at Kelkar college prior to winning the Miss World competition. Mookhey has a diploma in computer sciences and has studied Hindustani classical music. Mookhey is an active member of the right-wing organization BJP. Yukta and Prince Tuli, a 33-year-old ex financial analyst from New York, were engaged on September 7, 2008 at the Grand Maratha in Mumbai. Prince is the son of Bachetar and Harminder Kaur Tuli. Prince’s family owns a business empire in central India that runs into Logistics, Hotels, Malls, Education, and Construction Equipment. The two got married on November 2, 2008. The wedding was a traditional 'Sikh' ceremony which took place at a Gurudwara in Nagpur, which also happens to the Prince's hometown. A grand reception was organized the same evening at the Tuli International hotel in Nagpur. Mika Singh along with his troupe of 14 people performed at the pre wedding cocktail and sangeet party. Prince Tuli danced on stage with Mika. The 49th Miss World pageant was held on 4 December 1999 at London's Olympia Hall. The pageant was hosted by Ulrika Jonsson and model Melanie Sykes. The 1999 pageant attracted 94 delegates from all over the world. The 1999 pageant also marked the first time that Scotland and Wales fielded their respective delegates.

1st runner-up Venezuela - Martina Thorogood
2nd runner-up South Africa - Sonia Raciti

Finalists

 Israel - Genny Chervoney
 Liberia - Sebah Tubman

Semi-finalists

 Croatia - Ivana Petković
 Estonia - Karin Laasmae
 Norway - Anette Haukaas
 Spain - Lorena Bernal
 United States - Natasha Allas

Continental Queen
Africa: Sonia Raciti - South Africa
Americas: Martina Thorogood - Venezuela
Asia and Oceania: Yukta Mookhey - India
Caribbean: Desiree Depass - Jamaica
Europe: Genny Chervoney - Israel

Special Award
Best Designed Evening Dress: Genny Chervoney - Israel

***Preliminary swimsuits were held in Malta for the second time after 12 years.

***This is the first time that the contestants were introduced in evening gowns. Israel, Jenny Chervoney (placed 4th in Miss World 1999) won the Best Evening Dress Award.