Miss India Worldwide 2011, Anikita Ghazan (Centre) flanked by second runner-up Anuradha Devika Priya (left) and Roshini Boodhoo (right)
Miss India Australia, Ankita Cheryl Ghazan, beat 25 other contestants to clinch the title of Miss India Worldwide at a contest held in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, May14. Billed as a culturally-sensitive pageant, the contest was held to choose a beauty queen for Indian women living abroad.
The 19-year-old Ghazan impressed judges with her answer that she would endorse the cause of equal opportunities for all if she won the title. “If I win the Miss India Worldwide crown, the cause that I would endorse would be to provide equal opportunities, irrespective of class and creed, to all the people in the world — children, elderly, youth, the underprivileged — to accomplish and become what they have always aspired to be,” Ghazan said. She walked away with a cash prize of US$9,000 (Dh33,120). Calling her experience an “amazing journey”, Ghazan said the contest was a huge learning experience and a platform to meet women from diverse backgrounds. In the judging panel were celebrities including ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas, model- actress Sophie Chaudhry and celebrity yoga instructor Bharat Thakur. The first runner-up is Miss India USA Natasha Arora, followed closely by Miss India Trinidad Anuradha Devika Priya. The crowd favourite, Miss India UAE Farzana Parveen, was among the five finalists, but she failed to make the final cut. Guyana’s own Roshini Boodhoo was named Miss Congeniality. (gulnews. com)
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