Miss Universe India is a beauty pageant under the Glamanand Group organisation that selects India's official representative to the Miss Universe pageant since 2024.[1]
| Type | Beauty pageant |
|---|---|
| Franchise holder | Glamanand Group |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Country represented | India |
| Qualifies for | Miss Universe |
| First edition | 2024 |
National Director | Nikhil Anand |
| Language |
|
| Predecessor | Miss Diva |
| Website | Official Website |
History
editBetween 2012 and 2023, Miss Diva served as the official franchise for Miss Universe in India under the parent organisation, Femina Miss India. This meant they were entrusted with choosing Indian delegates to compete in the annual Miss Universe competition. During this period (from 2012 to 2023), Miss Diva crowned the Indian representatives as "Miss Diva Universe."
In February 2024, a new organization, spearheaded by National Director Nikhil Anand, was awarded the Miss Universe India franchise. This development led to the establishment of the independent Miss Universe India Organization. Under this new structure, a distinct and separate pageant will now be responsible for selecting India's Miss Universe representatives, both current and future (2024 onwards).[2][3]
Furthermore, in March 2024, the Miss Universe India Organization initiated to accept franchise holders from each state/regional level and those representing the Indian community abroad to choose their delegates. These delegates will then gain access to official Miss Universe India merchandise.
Rhea Singha was crowned Miss Universe India 2024 on September 22, 2024, by former Miss Universe India Urvashi Rautela. She became the first Miss Universe India under the ownership of the Glamanand Group. Pranjal Priya, Chhavi Verg, Sushmita Roy, and Ruopfuzhano Whiso secured the first, second, third, and fourth runner-up positions, respectively. The pageant was held at Zee Studios in Jaipur, India.[4]
Format
editEligibility Criteria
edit- Age: Participants must be 18 years or older. There is no maximum age limit.
- Gender: Female participants are eligible. Transgender women with valid female identification proofs are also welcome.
- Nationality: Indian citizens, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) may participate.
- Marital Status: All marital statuses are eligible, including single, engaged, married, divorced, and women with children.
Selection of Participants
editThe Miss Universe India competition traditionally features state representatives from across India. For 2024, all 30 states, as well as wild cards and diaspora representatives, will compete for the title. While state representations have been established for every Indian states, titles for the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry have not yet been introduced in the Miss Universe India competition.
Main pageant
editAll contestants will participate in a variety of activities and events throughout the competition, including photo shoots, grooming sessions, sponsored events, special challenge rounds, and interviews. A preliminary competition will be held before the final day, where contestants will showcase their evening gowns and national costumes. The grand finale will begin with a Top 20 announcement, determined by the contestants' overall performance throughout the preliminary rounds and merit events. These 20 finalists will then compete in the swimsuit and evening gown rounds, leading to the selection of the Top 10 and Top 5. A question-and-answer segment will narrow down the field to the Top 3, and ultimately, the Miss Universe India winner will be crowned, along with the first and second runners-up.
The newly crowned Miss Universe India immediately enters into a contract with the Miss Universe India Organization, typically lasting between seven months and a year, depending on the organization's requirements. Her duties include becoming an ambassador for a public cause for a year, promoting the organization's mission, and representing various sponsors. She also enjoys exclusive privileges such as attending fashion shows, galas, and casting calls, as well as pursuing modelling opportunities across India. Perhaps most importantly, the newly crowned Miss Universe India earns the exclusive right to represent India at the Miss Universe pageant, one of the world's most prestigious beauty contests. The organization provides comprehensive preparation for the candidate to represent the nation on the global stage, including catwalk training, grooming, gowns, and all necessary costumes, including the national costume.
Editions
editBelow is the complete list of Miss Universe India editions.
| Year | Date | Miss Universe India | 1st Runner-up | 2nd Runner-up | 3rd Runner-up | 4th Runner-up | Entrants | Presenters | Pageant venue | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | September 22, 2024 | Rhea Singha | Pranjal Priya | Chhavi Verg | Sushmita Roy | Ruopfuzhano Whiso | 51 | Lance Raymundo, Ngô Ngọc Gia Hân | Zee Studios, Jaipur | Zee TV |
Representatives at Miss Universe
edit- : Declared as Winner
- : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
- : Ended as one of the Finlaist/Semi-finalists
- : Unplaced but given special award(s)
| Year | Delegate | Age | State | Competition performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placements | Special award(s) | ||||
| 2024 | Rhea Singha | 19 | Gujarat | TBA | |
References
edit- ^ "Meet Nikhil Anand, the new Indian franchise holder of the world's biggest beauty pageant – Miss Universe". business.indianews.in. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "Big breaking news! India's Glamanand Group acquires the franchise rights of the Miss Universe competition". firstindia.co.in. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ "Meet Nikhil Anand, the new Indian franchise holder of Miss Universe". ianslife.in. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "Rhea Singha crowned Miss Universe India 2024 among 51 finalists". indiatvnews.com. Retrieved September 23, 2024.