Miss World Croatia reveals her Croatian outfits for the pageant in India 

Miss World Croatia Lucija Begić (Boris Mataković, PR)

The 71st Miss World pageant will take place in India from February 18th to March 9th, with the grand finale set for New Delhi. 

Croatia’s representative, Lucija Begić, has been preparing for months for this major competition, where besides beauty and personality, contestants from around the world are judged in categories like sports, talent, top model, Head to Head Challenge, with special attention given to the segment titled “Beauty with a Purpose,” emphasising the beauty with a meaningful cause as the essence of the competition. 

Only one out of 120 representatives will become the new Miss World and succeed Karolina Bielawska from Poland.

Iva Loparić , Lucija Begić, Tomislava Dukić (Photo: Boris Mataković, PR)

“Lucija is traveling to India for the 71st Miss World competition fully prepared to represent herself and our country. She will strive to gather points or secure victories in each of the categories. All categories are equally important, and Lucija is ready for all of them, but we have the highest hopes for the sports category given her expertise and education, top model, and the humanitarian project Beauty with a Purpose, as well as the Head to Head Challenge, namely the interview,” stated Iva Loparić Kontek, the owner of the Miss Croatia license for Miss World.

High hopes for success are also placed on the designer gown Lucija will wear at the grand finale in front of an audience of millions, crafted by renowned Croatian designer Ivan Alduk, who has also prepared a gown for the top model category. 

“Both gowns we designed and meticulously crafted at our atelier for the Miss World competition are in a particularly striking blue tone. I believe it’s a wise decision as it will automatically set our Lucija apart from the other girls. The gown she competes in for the top model category is adorned with tiny beads, long-sleeved with a bodice, following the body’s line, revealing almost everything, yet covering everything and is exceptionally modest. The emphasis is on the open back, and the design focuses on Lucija, her slender body, and natural beauty. I think it’s an excellent balance for this category,” emphasises Alduk. 

Ivan Alduk and Lucija Begić (Photo: Boris Mataković, PR)

The main gown through which the whole world will see Lucija is specially designed. We spent over 100 hours handcrafting the haute couture gown, it’s in shades of blue and is designed to be somewhere ‘between the sea and the sky,’ as the designer explains. ‘Considering Lucija is from Senj, known for its bura wind, and Croatia is associated with the beautiful sea, we decided for ‘less is more,’ and we designed a model inspired by the sea, the bura wind, and the sky. 

In various shades of blue, the gown is adorned with special beads imitating waves, and at the bottom, we created a darker tone with a special technique, the texture of waves and the restless sea. 

The gown’s cut highlights all bodily attributes subtly, while the dramatic capes add a windy, moving moment. I believe this gown, or rather, it would be better to call it a costume, will be extremely noticed at the Miss World competition. 

The idea is for Lucija to look like she emerged from the sea in the gown, all sun-kissed, with shiny skin, wet hair, wet makeup; it will be excellent,” explains Ivan Alduk.

Lucija will present herself in the national dances of the world ‘Dances of the World’ wearing a very attractive Posavina folk costume adorned with a rich coral necklace. For the charity auction as part of the Beauty with a Purpose organisation, founded 50 years ago by Miss World Director Julia Morley, Lucija will bring with her an artistic painting by our esteemed artist Dimitrije Popović. 

Lucija Begić and Dimitrije Popović (Photo: Boris Mataković, PR)

The Croatian representative diligently prepared with coach Gabrijela Kvesić for the talent category, in which she will perform majorette dancing. A collection of clothing for various events during her stay in India was created by designer Daniella Maleza, who prepared eight outfits for her. 

“I have created a collection for Lucija that will complement her personality, character values, intelligence, authenticity, and the strength of a woman who confidently rules every space she steps into, visually, energetically, and communicatively,” emphasised Daniella Maleza, a Croatian fashion designer. 

Daniella Maleza, Lucija Begić (Photo: Boris Mataković, PR)

All outfits exude elegance, refinement, and luxury because the designer nurtures the ‘old money fashion’ style, which permeates the entire collection she prepared for Lucija. 

Daniella also designed the costume for the talent performance, inspired by the rich Croatian tradition and culture, and the specificity of our representative’s performance. 

“Original cotton canvas was used for making Croatian folk costumes, as well as elements of gold embroidery, and the costume’s construction allows unrestricted movement, which aligns with Lucija’s performance in the talent category,” says Daniella.

Iva Loparić Kontek, Raj Kumar Srivastava, Lucija Begić (Photo: Boris Mataković, PR)

Famous designers Katarina Mamić and Marina Matić took care of Lucija’s wardrobe for the Miss World competition, creating five beautiful dresses and two unique swimsuits with accompanying caftans, respectively. 

Vjenčanica Nikolina prepared glamorous evening gowns, while Prahir Fine Jewellery provided a set of luxury jewelry for each outfit. To ensure Lucija shines in the best light, the Sara Polyclinic, Dharma Beauty Institute, and Studio Marcela have taken care of her through a series of workshops, demonstrating hairstyling.

Iva Loparić Kontek, Lucija Begić, Tihana Harapin Zalepugin (Photo: Boris Mataković, PR)

“I must extend special thanks to the Ambassador of India to Croatia, His Excellency Raj Kumar Srivastava, for his wholehearted assistance and advice, as well as to the Lika-Senj County and County Prefect Ernest Petry, the Plitvice Lakes National Park and Director Tomislav Kovačević, who are sponsors of the promotional video through which Lucija represents Croatia,” said Iva Loparić Kontek, the director of the Directorate.

Iva Loparić Kontek, Tomislav Kovačević, NP Plitvička jezera, Lucija Begić and župan Ernest Petry (Photo: Boris Mataković, PR)

You can watch Lucija’s presentation video which will be shown at the Miss World pageant in India on the link here. 

Before her journey to India, Lucija was wished good luck by the reigning Miss Croatia 2023, Tomislava Dukić, who will represent Croatia at the 72nd Miss World next year. 

Miss Croatia Tomislava Dukić (Photo: Boris Mataković, PR)

The Indian Ambassador to Croatia, His Excellency Raj Kumar Srivastava, also attended the event marking Lucija’s departure, and to embrace Indian culture during the event, a special Indian tea with milk was served.