35 years ago, Aneta Kręglicka became the first Pole in history to become Miss World. The 24-year-old from Gdańsk was unrivaled during the gala in Hong Kong. How does he remember this moment and the time after returning to Poland? How did the title change her life?
Aneta Kręglicka – a touching story of the most beautiful woman in the world
Aneta Kręglicka was 24 years old when her life changed. First she won the title of Miss Polonia, then she came close to winning the final of the Miss International election, and finally she was hailed the most beautiful woman in the world. She was the first Pole to win the Miss World crown in 1989.
Currently, Aneta remembers the old days with sentiment and admits that she never dreamed of participating in the Miss. She applied at the suggestion of a friend who had taken part in a beauty contest a year earlier. Years later, the emotions are still alive. After broadcasting our material recalling the past, Miss World did not hide her tears.
– I was moved, now I am becoming more and more sensitive to these sentiments and sensitive to these memories. Back then I had a slightly different attitude towards it, I was proud of what had happened. I am dutiful and task-oriented, so when I won this title, I wanted to excel at it and represent us. NO I had stardom in me. That’s not why I went there, it wasn’t in my plans to take part in a competition or go into modeling. It was an accident. My friends and family started encouraging me. My dad, who was a principled engineer. He knew me, he knew what I was like, that I was mature and strong. He knew that if I didn’t like something, I would give it up. Dad was my inspirer and guardian angel, she said.
Aneta Kręglicka – the pride of the Polish nation
After returning to the country, a crowd of Poles welcomed Aneta in Toruń. Since the world win, the 24-year-old’s name has not disappeared from the media.
– People felt it warmly and unbelievably. I had thoughts that they were crazy. I was stunned all this – said Aneta.
And what were the emotions like on the ground, abroad?
– The day before the competition there was a “Family Party”, where all the organizers and the jurors were present. There, two of them told me, “Aneta, hang in there tomorrow.” It occurred to me that they remembered my name. The next day, when we had individual conversations with the jurors, two of them told me that I was their favorite. I was hoping to get into the top 10, she said.
35 years ago Aneta Kręglicka became Miss World
Source: Dzień Dobry TVN
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Author: Nastazja Bloch
Reporter: Szymon Brózda
Source of the main photo: Dzień Dobry TVN
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Remembering Aneta Kręglicka: The First Miss World from Poland
35 years ago, Aneta Kręglicka became the first Pole in history to become Miss World. The 24-year-old from Gdańsk was unrivaled during the gala in Hong Kong. How does she remember this moment, and how has the title changed her life?
Aneta Kręglicka – A Touching Story of the Most Beautiful Woman in the World
There I was, 24 years old, and my life was about to take a twist that even the best soap operas couldn’t script. One minute I’m just a regular girl from Gdańsk, and the next, boom! I’m Miss World! Perhaps I should have done it in style, like announcing it via smoke signals from the top of a hill—would’ve added a bit of mystery, don’t you think?
Aneta recounts this whirlwind with a charm that leaves you somewhat envious. She started as Miss Polonia, then gracefully toppled some serious contestants in the Miss International election, culminating in the ultimate crown: Miss World in 1989. Most of us just try to win a game of Monopoly; she was flipping the beauty pageant world upside down!
With a hint of disbelief, Aneta recalls applying for Miss Polonia only because a friend nudged her into it. Honestly, if all it takes to become a beauty queen is a little peer pressure, should we be reevaluating our friend circles? But here’s a lovely twist—her dad, a principled engineer, was right behind her. Clearly, he knew his daughter was made of stronger stuff than your average beauty queen! Imagine the pep talks: ‘Now Aneta, just remember: if you don’t win, you can always build a bridge!’
Aneta Kręglicka – The Pride of the Polish Nation
After winning, Aneta returned to Poland a star. And how did Polish citizens react? As if she were the second coming of their favorite pop idol! Crowds mobbed her in Toruń—people were going mad, and she was just trying to dodge them like a game of dodgeball gone rogue. “They were crazy!” she laughed, still stunned by the attention. It’s like she accidentally created a fan base just by winning the title. Don’t we wish it were that easy in our lives?
But let’s be honest. That day before the grand competition, they had a “Family Party” where the judges whispered sweet nothings—well, actually, encouraging words—to her. Can we take a moment to appreciate the images of these judges sharing secret handshakes like they were part of a covert operation? Just between us, I’d have given anything to hear those whispers; “Aneta, hang in there tomorrow.” I mean, come on! That’s what every contestant dreams of—someone believing in them while promising to not throw them a curveball.
Her humble attitude and surprise at winning conveys a beautiful part of her narrative—though she admits hoping just to make the top ten. Think about that when you’re binge-watching reality show dramas. If only we all had the courage to dream just a little bigger, even if it starts with a small push from friends!
Bed her in Toruń, celebrating the achievement of their national jewel. It was an overwhelming moment; Aneta described the reception as something out of a fairy tale, making her feel both honored and a little bit bewildered. “I was stunned,” she mentioned, trying to grasp the magnitude of her fame.
But fame didn’t come without its moments of anxiety. Leading up to the Miss World competition, Aneta felt the weight of expectations. Just a day before the event, there was a “Family Party” where jurors and organizers mingled with contestants. During conversations, she received encouraging words that reminded her she wasn’t just another face in the crowd. “Aneta, hang in there tomorrow,” they said, and to hear them remember her name gave her both comfort and confidence.
With her eyes sparkling with nostalgia and perhaps a bit of incredulity, Aneta reflects on how she hoped to make it at least into the top 10. Little did she know that she would walk away with the crown, shattering both her expectations and those of an entire nation.
Now, 35 years later, Kręglicka remains an inspirational figure. She has transcended the initial wave of fame and carved out a life that embodies resilience and strength. Today, the world remembers her not only as a beauty queen but as a symbol of Polish pride and an advocate for various causes close to her heart.
In a world where reality often distracts from dreams, Aneta Kręglicka’s journey serves as a reminder that sometimes life has a way of surprising you—one beauty pageant at a time. So here’s to the remarkable story of a girl from Gdańsk who, with a little encouragement and a lot of guts, became the embodiment of grace and charm, making Poland proud on the global stage.