PTI
MUMBAI, Apr 9: Mumbai girl Sarah Jane Dias was crowned 'Miss India World', Puja Gupta 'Miss India Universe' and Puja Chitgopekar 'Miss India Earth' at a glittering awards function of the coveted beauty pageant on Sunday night.
Sarah, who is a Veejay and a model, won the title beating 24 other contestants in the finals of the event.
The first runner-up was Puja Gupta and Puja Chitgopekar the second runner-up, an official of the event organiser Pantaloons said.
He said the pageant this year had decided to declare the 'Miss India World' as the official winner.
Puja Gupta
Puja Chitgopekar
The event was judged by several celebraties including Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra, director Subhash Ghai and model Ujwalla Raut and went for almost two-and-a-half hours.
In the final round, the five finalists had to answer to the question - "If you had to convince a rural woman to participate in the Miss India contest, how would you do it?"
The paegent was interspersed with performances by actors Tushhar Kapoor, Koena Mitra and Lara Dutta
About Jane:
Miss India Oman (1995) and Channel [V] VJ, Sarah – Jane Dias is known face in the glamour industry. Winning the Miss India crown is a dream that she has harbored since she was five. Other than that she is keen to build a career in the field of music and food. Traveling around the world is also part of her future plans.
Confident, forgiving and addictive is how she describes herself. Her voice and her ability to talk to anyone are her strengths while food and her forgiving attitude she considers her weakness. Dancing, singing, traveling and writing are her hobbies.
Mess India !
Mid Day
This year, for the first time in 44 years, the outgoing Miss India didn’t hand over her crown to her successor. Last year’s winner Neha Kapur was absent at the crowning at MMRDA Grounds, Bandra, on Sunday.
The problem cropped up last minute, when the organisers of Femina Miss India informed Kapur about a change in format. So far, the reigning winners always crowned their respective successors. But she was told she would be handing over her crown to the first runner up instead of the winner, as the titles for the two had been swapped. This year the winner was called Miss India World and the runner up Miss India Universe instead of vice versa.
“Neha was asked to crown the first runner up, in a departure from tradition, said Sushma Puri of Elite Model Management, which handles Neha. “She called me from there and appraised me of the situation and we had to take a call. She tried to reason with the organisers, but it didn’t work out. I stand by Neha’s decision.”
“It is our prerogative to structure the event and the final call about the format rests with us. And at this point we wouldn’t want to add anything more to it, said Munish Purii, national director of the event.
After Neha walked out, the organisers managed to convince judge and former winner Priyanka Chopra to crown the first runner up, Puja Gupta, Miss India Universe.
Natasha Suri, last year’s first runner up and Miss India World, crowned
VJ Sarah Jane Dias the new Miss India World.
Pooja Chitgopekar was crowned the Miss India Earth 2007 by her predecessor.
The change in format came as a shock to the audience too. Many were heard saying hosts Sajid Khan and Mona Singh had announced the first runner up title as Miss India Universe by mistake.
The official photographer of the event said, “I had shot all three previous winners with their crowns on and ready to come on stage, so I was surprised to see Kapur missing from the stage.”
According to sources, Neha was also peeved by the fact that there was no cash prize for the winners last year, but it was re-introduced this year. The winner took home Rs 1 lakh.
Neha refused to come on record, and said she was, “speechless”.
Run-up to the Event: