Miss World 2013: Will Navneet Kaur Dhillon End India’s Decade-Long Losing Streak?

In the run-up to the 63rd Miss World grand finale that will take place in Bali, Indonesia, on Saturday, all hopes are pinned on India's contestant Navneet Kaur Dhillon to bring home the crown after 13 years.

Navneet, a 20-year-old who hails from Patiala, also has high hopes on winning the crown from last year's winner Yu Wenxia of China.

When Navneet was a child she watched Aishwarya Rai winning the coveted crown on television. Since then, she wanted to become Miss World.

"I was a child, and when Aishwarya Rai won Miss World. My father was watching that show on TV, he said when my daughter grows up, she will become Miss World. After that whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to be I always said 'I want to become Miss World when I grow up!'. Forget Miss India I directly wanted to become Miss World! Miss India is a stepping stone for me to win Miss World," she told DNA newspaper.

This year, 130 contestants from different countries participated in the beauty pageant. The contestants will compete for six award categories, including Beach Fashion, Top Model, Sports and Fitness, Beauty with a Purpose, Talent Competition and the World Fashion Designer Award.

As predicted, Miss World Philippines 2013, Megan Young and Miss World Indonesia 2013, Vania Larissa, are leading in most of the categories.

But Miss World India is way behind in the competition. Navneet had won the Challenge Winner award for Multimedia and came ninth in the Beauty with Purpose Challenge. But she failed to make it in the top 10 list in the Beach Fashion contest, Talent competition and Top Model challenge.

Navneet is getting huge support from her home town and India's former Miss Worlds. Bollywood actress and former beauty queen Priyanka Chopra posted a message on Facebook asking the public to vote for Navneet.

"Help Miss India World, Navneet Kaur Dhillon follow in my footsteps and help her win Miss World 2013," Priyanka said.

People from her hometown are also rooting for her on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

To vote for Miss World India 2013, download the Miss World 2013 App. The person with most votes will be declared the People's Champion and will directly enter the finale.