By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
Modelling ,as most readers all well aware of ,is an American concept.Interestingly, there has been a virtual boom in the fashion industry in the recent decades as the phenomenon is looked upon as one of the most lucrative professions.Like Modelling, Beauty Contests, too, are an American idea or innovation.
Until a few decades ago one only heard of “Miss Universe” contests which were held at Miami Beach in Florida but such contests now begin to be organised at various levels all over the world- national,provincial & regional,in such countires as intend to contend for the coveted trophy.
In the beginning,such pageants predominantly attracted girls from Anglo Indian community or from families of non-Indian origin. Later girls from mixed families like Katty Mirza & Zeenat Aman were attracted to such contests & the trend caught up slowly though steadily with more & more young, nubile & aspiring cuties joining the bandwagon the likes of Sonu Walia, Meenakshi Sheshadhri, Sangeeta Bijlani,Juhi Chawla, Shikha Swaroop , Manisha Kohli Mehr Jesia , Gul Panag & Neha Dhupia to mention few.
Femina Miss India, the most prestigious and oldest surviving national beauty pageant in India started in 1964. It sends its winners to Miss World and Miss Grand International.Miss Diva, the national beauty pageant sends its winners to Miss Universe and Miss Supranational. It is the sister pageant of Femina Miss India that started in 2013.
Sini Sadanand Shetty from Karnataka is the latest winner of ‘Femina Miss India 2022’. The event took place at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. She will represent the country in the Miss World 2022 pageant. Rubal Shekhawat (Rajasthan) & Shinata Chauhan (Uttar Pradesh) were Ist & 2nd Runner-Up respectively. Gargee Nandy (Meghalaya) & Pragnya Ayyagari ( Telangana) featurd among Top 5.As was expected there also were fewer protests from various sections in favour of contestants from Telangana & Meghalaya. We hope the organizers would seriously look into the matter & maintain the dignity & probity of the event in future.
Karolina Bielawska of Poland is the current Miss World 2021. She will crown her successor ‘Miss Word 2022’ at the end of the event. Manushi Chhillar of India is the sixth Indian woman to win ‘Miss World’ title in 2017. Earlier Priyanka Chopra had won the Crown in 2000.
Kiki Hakansson of Sweden was the first woman to win the Miss World contest held in London in 1951.She was the only contestant in the history to be Crowned wearing a bikini. Only 27 participants took part in the event.
