Hyderabad recently welcomed contestants of the upcoming Miss World 2025 pageant, including representatives from India, the United Kingdom, France, Cameroon, and the USA. As part of their visit, they toured the KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases, a leading breast health facility in the city.
The group was joined by Julia Morley, CEO of the Miss World Organisation, who praised the center’s founder, Dr. Raghu Ram, for his groundbreaking work in breast cancer care. For the past 18 years, Dr. Ram has led efforts to improve early detection and treatment of breast cancer across India.
Julia Morley addressed the medical staff and guests at the center. She applauded Dr. Ram for founding South Asia’s first dedicated breast health center. She called his work a powerful example of collaboration between India and the UK, saying he has successfully brought the best of British practices into the Indian healthcare system.
The contestants were deeply moved by Dr. Ram’s personal motivation to fight breast cancer. Inspired by his mother, Dr. Ushalakshmi’s own battle with the disease, he launched major awareness campaigns to help women across the country. Breast cancer in India is often diagnosed late, with over 60% of cases reaching advanced stages, leading to poor survival rates.
Among the pageant participants was Nandini Gupta (Miss India 2025), Issie Princesse (Miss Cameroon), Dr. Neomi Milne (Miss Guadeloupe 2025, representing France and a practicing doctor), and Dr. Idil Bilgen (USA, a radiation oncology trainee). Each of them praised Dr. Ram’s dedication and said they would carry the lessons they learned back to their home countries.
The visitors were especially impressed by Dr. Ram’s powerful presentation, which showcased the impact of the Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation. They expressed a desire to implement similar awareness and care initiatives in their own nations.
This visit highlighted the global importance of breast cancer awareness and the influence one person’s mission can have across borders.
