First runner-up to the Miss World 2008 crown Parvathy Omanakuttan [ Images ] returned to Mumbai [ Images ] from Johannesburg, South Africa [ Images ], early this morning.

Parvathy, 21, is the country's first-ever Miss India [ Images ] of Malayali descent and many believed that her excellent performance at the pageant would secure first place.

She lost out in the final round, however, by just a whisker to Russian contestant Ksenia Sukhinova.

Despite her disappointment at having missed the title, the young beauty queen put on a big smile and waved to the crowd that had gathered at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in the wee hours to welcome her home.

Also see:
Parvathy Omanakuttan: A star nonetheless

Photograph:Arun Patil