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In 1947 the India Film Journalism Association conferred
upon Pramila, an actress, the title of Miss India. Many
years later, in 1964, a Femina cover girl, Meher Mistry,
was chosen to represent India at an international beauty
contest. Since then, the most beautiful young women in the
country have been selected at the Miss India competitions
to participate in pageants abroad.
in 1966,Reita Faria, a young medical student from Grant
Medical College, Mumbai created history by being winning
the title of Miss World . She was the first Indian to have
won an International title. Many new faces then appeared
and participated at these International pageants. However,
it took 32 years for another winner to come .
Madhu Sapre will always remain the girl who almost became
Miss Universe. She was selected Miss Universe
second runner- up in 1992. Namrata Shirodkar won the
Miss Universe 3rd Runner- up in 1993 and Asia Pacific
Quest titles in 1993.
The year 1994 was an epochal year for the Indian beauties.
It was only then that the world took a second look at the
Indian beauty queens whose popularity till then was
confined only to the borders of their land. Sushmita Sen
jolted the country out of its slumber by winning the Miss
Universe title in the month of May. Hardly had the Indians
rejoiced at this new-found victory when Aishwarya Rai
added to the winning streak when she geacefully walked
away with the Miss World crown
later that year!
Since
then there has been no looking back for the Indian women.
India was in the forefront of the world beauty contests
almost every alternate year. Diana Hayden in1997 and
recently, Yukta Mookhey in 1999. A remarkable feat for any
country. Now India has four Miss World title holders,
which is just one short of the highest holder of the
crown, Venezuela.
After the double triumph of Sushmita and Aishwarya in
1994, an urgent need was felt to professionalise the
competition. As a result, highly reputed designers and
event managers were brought in to showcase the prestigious
contest to perfection. Gradually, as the concept of beauty
evolved, the contest, underwent a sea-change, developed by
Femina under the Times of India umbrella.
Today, the coveted crowns of Femina Miss India Universe,
Femina Miss India World and Femina Miss India
Asia Pacific are contested by not just the most
beautiful women in this country, but by a group of
talented individuals, who now epitomise the credo of
beauty with a purpose that stretches beyond the world of
glamour. Winners have become professionals in various
fields -- journalism, law, design, films and, of course,
beauty.
This
Year's Results
- Mastindia.com features,
courtesy Femina India
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