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Miss India or Femina Miss India is a national beauty pageant in India that annually selects representatives to compete in Miss World, one of the Big Four major international beauty pageants. It is organised by Femina, a women's magazine published by The Times Group. Since 2013 to 2022, Femina also organised Miss Diva as a separate competition, with representatives competing at Miss Universe.
The reigning Femina Miss India (Femina Miss India World) titleholder is Nandini Gupta of Rajasthan who was crowned by the outgoing titleholder Sini Sadanand Shetty on 15 April 2023 at Imphal, Manipur.
The first Miss India was Pramila (Esther Victoria Abraham), from Calcutta, who won in 1947. It was organised by the local press.
In 1952, two Miss India pageants were held, Indrani Rehman and Nutan were the winners of the pageant. Nutan was crowned as Miss Mussorie. The pageant was held by the local press. Indrani Rehman was crowned at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai in the month of April 1952. Indrani later represented India at Miss Universe 1952, the inaugural edition of Miss Universe pageant.
In 1953, Peace Kanwal from Punjab was crowned Miss India 1953 at KARDAR-KOLYNOS Pageant. The pageant was organised by Abdur Rashid Kardar. She later established herself as a Bollywood actress.
In 1954, Leela Naidu from Maharashtra was declared Miss India, and the same year was featured in Vogue magazine's list of the world's ten most beautiful women.
There was no Miss India pageant from 1955 to 1958. In 1959, Eve's Weekly organised its very first Miss India contest called Eve's Weekly Miss India to send India's representatives to the Miss World pageant. Fleur Ezekiel was crowned the eventual winner. She represented India at Miss World 1959 held in London, United Kingdom.
The first Femina Miss India pageant was held in year 1964. Meher Castelino Mistri of Maharashtra was crowned the first Femina Miss India. She was chosen to represent India at Miss Universe 1964 held in the United States and Miss Nations 1964 held in Spain.
Reita Faria was the first Miss India ever to win any international beauty pageant. She was crowned Miss World 1966 in London, United Kingdom. She was the winner of Eve's Weekly Miss India contest. The same year Femina Miss India winner Yasmin Daji represented India at Miss Universe 1966 and was crowned 3rd Runner-up at the event. She was the first Femina Miss India Winner to get placed at any international beauty pageant.
Zeenat Aman was the first Femina Miss India titleholder to win an international pageant. She was crowned Femina Miss India Asia Pacific and went on to win Miss Asia Pacific 1970 held in Philippines.
Meenakshi Seshadri the youngest contestant who won the title,
She won the Miss India contest at the age of 17 in the year 1981 and was known for phenomenal acting in 'Hero' 'Damini', 'Ghayal' and 'Ghatak'. She quit the industry very early and got married.
In 1993 Miss Femina India, Vaishali Sood, daughter of Cdr Sudhir Sood, who was the winner of the 1991 Navy May Queen Ball, stood second runner up. She went on to act in a Bollywood Movie, Mr Bond, starring Akshay Kumar.
In 2002, the third winner was designated to Miss Earth instead of Miss Asia Pacific.
In 2010, after the I Am She - Miss Universe India acquired the rights to send India's representatives to Miss Universe, Femina Miss India crowned three winners as Femina Miss India World, Femina Miss India Earth and Femina Miss India International, the third winner represented India in Miss International pageant.
In 2010, Tantra Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (TEPL), in partnership with Sushmita Sen, started a new pageant called I Am She - Miss Universe India. The winner of this pageant participated in the Miss Universe pageant from 2010 to 2012.
In 2008, Gladrags President Maureen Wadia provided legal notice to newly crowned Femina Miss India Earth 2008, Harshita Saxena for violating an exclusive two-year contract with Gladrags that had been signed by Harshita in 2006. To participate in any other beauty pageant, Harshita would need a written letter of no objection from Gladrags. Harshita surrendered the title and the crown went to Tanvi Vyas, who represented India at the Miss Earth 2008 pageant held in November 2008. Later, Harshita was ranked fourth at Femina Miss India 2009 and represented India at Miss International 2009. Harshita was later placed fourth in Miss India 2009 and represented India in Miss International 2009.
In 2004, Lakshmi Pandit (Kalpana Pandit's sister) was initially declared the winner, but had to return the title as she was married (to Siddarth Mishra); Sayali Bhagat was finally declared the winner.
In 1989, the winner Kalpana Pandit was found to have misrepresented her nationality (she had a US passport); she was stripped of her title and Dolly Minhas was declared the winner.
Miss India has been participating in the Miss Universe pageant since 1952, starting with Indrani Rehman and in the Miss World pageant since 1959, starting with Fleur Ezekiel.
In the 1970s, Femina acquired the rights to send a representative to Miss World as well, and started to send the winner to Miss Universe and the runner-up to the Miss World contest. Later in 1991, Femina Miss India also acquired the rights to send India's representatives to Miss International pageant.
In 1994, following India's historic dual wins at both Miss Universe and Miss World, the custom of crowning a single winner was discontinued. Instead, the top three placers were designated winners with equal visibility, equal prizes and responsibilities, and were crowned as Femina Miss India-Universe, Femina Miss India-World, and Femina Miss India-Asia Pacific and a finalist was sent to Miss International. In 2002, the third title was changed to Femina Miss India-Earth, to designate India's representation at the newly launched Miss Earth pageant, focused on the cause of environmental advocacy and a finalist was sent to Miss International.
From 2007 to 2009, three equal winners were selected going to Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Earth. In 2010, I Am She - Miss Universe India acquired the rights to send India's representatives to Miss Universe. Later, in 2013 The Times Group again acquired the rights to send India's representatives to Miss Universe and launched a new pageant for Miss Universe named Miss Diva.
In 1970, Zeenat Aman won Miss Asia Pacific 1970. She became the first Indian and South Asian woman to win the title.
The awards for 1989 were given at the end of the year (December); hence there was no separate contest for 1990.
In 1994, Sushmita Sen won the Miss Universe title after winning the Miss India crown and became the first Indian woman ever to win the Miss Universe crown. The same year the runner-up of Miss India, Aishwarya Rai, won the Miss World title. Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai established themselves in the Bollywood industry after winning their titles.
The success of Sen and Rai spawned coaching institutions which were set up to groom young women in pageant participation skills. The number of participants in the preliminary rounds of the pageant has increased considerably. Miss India World 1997, Diana Hayden won the title of Miss World 1997. In 1999, the Miss India World Yukta Mookhey went on to win the Miss World that year.
In 2000, three of the Miss India winners won their respective international pageants — Lara Dutta (Miss Universe), Priyanka Chopra (Miss World) and Diya Mirza Miss Asia Pacific. The other country to have won all three major titles in one year were Australia in 1972.
In 2010, after the introduction of I Am She - Miss Universe India, the third title was changed to Femina Miss India-International and the winner represented India at Miss International pageant.
In 2010, Nicole Faria became the first Indian to win the Miss Earth title in Vietnam, which leaves Miss International as the only major international pageant that has not been won by an Indian contestant.
In 2012, Himangini Singh Yadu won Miss Asia Pacific World 2012 and became first Indian and Asian to win the pageant. She was sent by I Am She - Miss Universe India pageant.
In 2013, Srishti Rana won Miss Asia Pacific World 2013 giving India a rare back to back victory. She is the second Indian and first Miss Diva Winner to win Miss Asia Pacific World Crown. She is also the first Indian delegate to win an international pageant that has been sent by Femina Miss India's sister pageant, Miss Diva.
In 2014, Asha Bhat, Miss Diva Supranational 2014 won Miss Supranational 2014 and became the first Indian woman to win the crown. Asha is the second Asian to win the crown. The same year Ruhi Singh who was crowned the first Femina Miss India Universal Peace and Humanity won the first Miss Universal Peace and Humanity pageant held in Lebanon.
After May Myat Noe, the winner of Miss Asia Pacific World 2014 pageant was dethroned, the organisation organised another pageant named Miss Asia Pacific 2014 Supertalent of the World Season 5 under Miss Asia Pacific World title, Swetha Raj who represented India won the crown, giving India a rare back to back to back victory, India is the only country to win any international pageant three years in a row, however Swetha was sent by Miss India Australia organisation.
When Reita Faria of India won Miss World 1966, she became the first Asian to do so, and India won its first Big Four title. Sushmita Sen was crowned Miss Universe 1994, becoming the country's first Miss Universe winner. Later that year, Aishwarya Rai added to India's winning streak by becoming Miss World 1994, making the country the last in the twentieth century to win both Miss Universe and Miss World in the same year.
Diana Hayden then won the Miss World title in 1997. Actor and model Yukta Mookhey was later crowned Miss World 1999. Six years after Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai's double wins, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra replicated the feat in 2000, marking the most recent time (as of 2023) that any country has won back-to-back at Miss World and, to date, the only time that any country won Miss Universe and Miss World in the same year in the 21st century. India's appearances at the Miss Universe semifinals from 1992 to 2002 made it the first country in the Eastern Hemisphere to place annually at the pageant for at least 10 consecutive years.
In 2010, Nicole Faria from Bangalore became the first Indian woman to win the Miss Earth pageant. Manushi Chhillar won the Miss World 2017 title. In 2021, Harnaaz Sandhu became the third Indian woman to win Miss Universe title, becoming the most recent Big 4 pageant titleholder from India as of 2023
The following is the list of Indian winners in the Big Four international beauty pageants:
The following is the list of Indian winners in various other international pageants:
The following is the list of India's multiple victories in major international pageants:
Femina Miss World India
Nandini Gupta
1st Runner-up
Shreya Poonja
2nd Runner-up
Thounaojam Strela Luwang
Miss World 2024
Nandini Gupta(TBA)
Femina Miss World India
Sini Sadanand Shetty
1st Runner-up
Rubal Shekhawat
2nd Runner-up
Shinata Chauhan
Miss World 2023
Sini Sadanand Shetty(TBA)
Femina Miss World India
Manasa Varanasi
Femina Miss Grand India
Manika Sheokand
Runner-up
Manya Singh
Miss World 2021
Manasa Varanasi
(Top 13)
Miss Grand International 2021
Manika Sheokand
(Top 20)
Femina Miss World India
Suman Rao
Femina Miss Grand India
Shivani Jadhav
Femina Miss United Continents India
Shreya Shanker
Runner-up
Sanjana Vij
Miss World 2019
Suman Rao
(2nd Runner-up; Miss World Asia)
Miss Grand International 2019
Shivani Jadhav
(Unplaced)
Miss United Continents
Shreya Shanker
(Unplaced)
Femina Miss World India
Anukreethy Vas
Femina Miss Grand India
Meenakshi Chaudhary
Femina Miss United Continents India
Gayatri Bharadwaj
Runner-up
Shreya Rao Kamavarapu
Miss World 2018
Anukreethy Vas
(Top 30)
Miss Grand International 2018
Meenakshi Chaudhary
(1st Runner-up)
Miss United Continents 2018
Gayatri Bharadwaj
(Top 10)
Femina Miss World India
Manushi Chhillar
Femina Miss Grand India
Anukriti Gusain
Femina Miss United Continents India
Sana Dua
Femina Miss Intercontinental India
Priyanka Kumari
Miss World 2017
Manushi Chhillar
(Miss World 2017; Beauty with a Purpose)
Miss Grand International 2017
Anukriti Gusain
(Top 20)
Miss United Continents 2017
Sana Dua
(Top 10)
Miss Intercontinental 2017
Priyanka Kumari
(Unplaced; Best National Costume)
Femina Miss World India
Priyadarshini Chatterjee
Femina Miss Grand India
Pankhuri Gidwani
Femina Miss United Continents India
Lopamudra Raut
Runner-up
Sushruthi Krishna
Miss World 2016
Priyadarshini Chatterjee
(Top 20)
Miss Grand International 2016
Pankhuri Gidwani
(Unplaced)
Miss United Continents 2016
Lopamudra Raut
(2nd Runner-up; Best National Costume)
Femina Miss World India
Aditi Arya
Femina Miss Grand India
Vartika Singh
Femina Miss Supranational India
Aafreen Vaz
Femina Miss United Continents India
Sushrii Shreya Mishraa
Miss World 2015
Aditi Arya
(Unplaced)
Miss Grand International 2015
Vartika Singh
(2nd Runner-up; Best Social Media)
Miss Supranational 2015
Aafreen Vaz
(Top 10; Miss Supranational - Asia and Oceania)
Miss United Continents 2015
Sushrii Shreya Mishraa
(3rd Runner-up; Best National Costume, Miss Photogenic)
Femina Miss World India
Koyal Rana
Femina International India
Jhataleka Malhotra
Femina Miss United Continents India
Gail Nicole Da Silva
Miss World 2014
Koyal Rana
(Top 11; Miss World Asia, Beauty With a Purpose, World Fashion Designer Dress, Dances of the World Performer, Charity Gala)
Miss International 2014
Jhataleka Malhotra
(Unplaced)
Miss United Continents 2014
Gail Nicole Da Silva
(1st Runner-up; Best National Costume, Miss Photogenic)
Femina Miss World India
Navneet Kaur Dhillon
Femina Earth India
Sobhita Dhulipala
Femina Miss Supranational India
Vijaya Sharma
Femina Miss United Continents India
Purva Rana
Femina Miss Miss Heritage India
Swati Kain
Runner-up
Zoya Afroz
Miss World 2013
Navneet Kaur Dhillon
(Top 20; Multimedia Award)
Miss Earth 2013
Sobhita Dhulipala
(Unplaced; Miss Photogenic, Miss Earth Eco Beauty, Miss Ever Bilena)
Miss Supranational 2013
Vijaya Sharma
(Top 20)
Miss United Continents 2013
Purva Rana
(1st Runner-up)
Miss Heritage 2013
Swati Kain
(1st Runner-up)
Miss Diva Universe Shweta Sharda Miss Diva Supranational Sonal Kukreja
Runner-up
Trisha Shetty
Miss Universe 2023 Shweta Sharda
(TBD) Miss Supranational 2024 Sonal Kukreja (TBD)
Miss Diva Universe Divita Rai
Miss Diva Supranational Pragnya Ayyagari
Miss Universe 2022
Divita Rai (Top 16)
Miss Supranational 2023 Pragnya Ayyagari(Top 12; Miss Supranational Asia)
Miss Diva Universe
Harnaaz Sandhu
Miss Diva Supranational
Ritika Khatnani
1st Runner-up
Sonal Kukreja
2nd Runner-up
Divita Rai
3rd Runner-up
Tarini Kalingarayar
4th Runner-up
Ankita Singh
Miss Universe 2021
Harnaaz Sandhu
(Miss Universe 2021)
Miss Supranational 2022
Ritika Khatnani
(Top 12; Miss Supranational Asia)
Miss Diva Universe
Adline Castelino
Miss Diva Supranational
Aavriti Choudhary
Runner-up
Neha Jaiswal
Miss Universe 2020
Adline Castelino
(3rd Runner-up)
Miss Supranational 2021
Aavriti Choudhary
(Top 12)
Miss Diva Universe
Vartika Singh
Miss Diva Supranational
Shefali Sood
Miss Universe 2019
Vartika Singh
(Top 20)
Miss Supranational 2019
Shefali Sood
(Top 25)
Miss Diva Universe
Nehal Chudasama
Miss Diva Supranational
Aditi Hundia
Runner-up
Roshni Sheoran
Miss Universe 2018
Nehal Chudasama
(Unplaced)
Miss Supranational 2018
Aditi Hundia
(Top 25)
Miss Diva Universe
Shraddha Shashidhar
Miss Diva Supranational
Peden Ongmu Namgyal
Runner-up
Apeksha Porwal
Miss Universe 2017
Shraddha Shashidhar
(Unplaced)
Miss Supranational 2017
Peden Ongmu Namgyal
(Top 25)
Miss Diva Universe
Roshmitha Harimurthy
Miss Diva Supranational
Srinidhi Ramesh Shetty
Runner-up
Aaradhana Buragohain
Miss Universe 2016
Roshmitha Harimurthy
(Unplaced)
Miss Supranational 2016
Srinidhi Ramesh Shetty
(Miss Supranational 2016)
Miss Diva Universe
Urvashi Rautela
1st Runner-up
Natasha Assadi
2nd Runner-up
Naveli Deshmukh
Miss Universe 2015
Urvashi Rautela
(Unplaced)
Miss Diva Universe
Noyonita Lodh
Miss Diva Earth
Alankrita Sahai
Miss Diva Supranational
Asha Bhat
Miss Universe 2014
Noyonita Lodh
(Top 15)
Miss Earth 2014
Alankrita Sahai
(Unplaced)
Miss Supranational 2014
Asha Bhat
(Miss Supranational 2014)
Miss Diva Universe
Manasi Moghe
Miss Diva International
Gurleen Grewal
Miss Diva Asia Pacific World
Srishti Rana
Miss Universe 2013
Manasi Moghe
(Top 10)
Miss International 2013
Gurleen Grewal
(Unplaced)
Miss Asia Pacific World 2013
Srishti Rana
(Miss Asia Pacific World 2013)
The following women have represented India in the Big Four international beauty pageants, the four major international beauty pageants for women. These are Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss Earth.
India did not send delegates in 1967, 1965, 1964, 1963.
From 1959 to 1966 representatives to Miss World were sent by Eve's Weekly Miss India pageant. In 1968, Bharat Sundari got the franchise to send India's representative to Miss World. They sent the delegates from 1968 to 1970, 1972, 1975. Femina got the franchise in 1976. Femina also sent delegates to Miss World in 1971 and 1974. Traditionally the runner up in Miss India pageant was sent to Miss World but this changed in 2013 and now the winner of Miss India is sent to represent at Miss World.
India did not compete in the Miss Universe pageant from 1953 to 1963. I AM She - Miss Universe India sent its delegates to Miss Universe from 2010 to 2012. Traditionally the Miss India Winner was sent to Miss Universe and the runner up was sent to Miss World; however since 2013 a separate pageant Miss Diva has been held to send delegates to Miss Universe and the Miss India winner will represent India at Miss World annually.
Femina Miss India and Miss Diva (The Times Group) acquired the rights to send India representatives to Miss Supranational only from the year 2013.
Femina Miss India dropped the franchise of Miss International in 2015. The last representative to Miss International from Femina Miss India was Jhataleka Malhotra in 2014.
Femina Miss India dropped the Miss Earth Franchise in 2014 after Alankrita Sahai being the last representative from Miss Diva.
In the years 2013 and 2014 India's delegates to Miss Grand International were sent by Indian Princess. Femina Miss India acquired the franchise in 2015 till 2019 and 2021.Delegate for Miss Grand International 2020 and 2022 and onwards was sent by Glamanand Supermodel India.
The representatives for Miss United Continents have been selected by Femina Miss India since the pageant's inception in 2013.
Indian representatives to Miss Intercontinental is being sent by Femina Miss India group.
In the years 2011 and 2012, I Am She - Miss India sent their runners-up to this pageant. Femina had franchise to select their representatives in the years 2013 and 2014.
India is the only country to win an international pageant three years in a row. In the year 2012, Himangini Singh Yadu was crowned as Miss Asia Pacific World 2012. In the succeeding year Srishti Rana was crowned as Miss Asia Pacific World 2013. In the year 2014, May Myat Noe of Myanmar was originally crowned but later she was dethroned. A new pageant was held by the organizers and Swetha Raj of India became victorious, thus giving India a rare Three-peat victory in an international pageant.[non-primary source needed]
Along with Femina Miss India and Miss Diva, the Times Group also organised Mister India pageant to select representative for Mister World[Note 1] and Mister Supranational.
Prateik Jain was the first Mister World India under The Times Group and Jitesh Thakur was the first ever Mister Supranational India.
In 2016, Rohit Khandelwal became the first Indian and thus the first Asian to win the Mister World contest title.
In 2018, Prathamesh Maulingkar became the first Indian and thus the first Asian to win the Mister Supranational contest title. This marked India, the only country to win both Miss and Mister Supranational titles.
Mister Supranational India 2021
Rahul Rajasekharan
None
Mister Supranational 2021
Rahul Rajasekharan
(Top 10; Mister Supranational Asia)
Mister Supranational India 2019
Varun Verma
None
Mister Supranational 2019
Varun Verma
(Top 10; Mister Supranational Asia)
Mister World India 2017
Jitesh Singh Deo
Mister Supranational India 2018
Prathamesh Maulingkar
1st Runner-up
Abhi Khajuria
2nd Runner-up
Pavan Rao
Mister World 2022
Jitesh Singh Deo
(TBA)
Mister Suprantional 2018
Prathamesh Maulingkar
(Winner; Best Body)
Mister World India 2016
Vishnu Raj Menon
Mister Supranational India 2017
Altamash Faraz
1st Runner-up
Varun Verma
2nd Runner-up
Devash khanduja
Mister World 2019
Vishnu Raj Menon
(Unplaced)
Mister Suprantional 2017
Altamash Faraz
(Top 10; Mister Supranational Asia & Oceania )
Mister World India 2015
Rohit Khandelwal
Mister Supranational India 2016
Jitesh Thakur
1st Runner-up
Rahul Rajasekharan
2nd Runner-up
Prateek Gujral
Mister World 2016
Rohit Khandelwal
(Winner)
Mister Suprantional 2016
Jitesh Thakur
(2nd Runner-up;Mister Supranational Asia )
Mister World India 2014
Prateik Jain
1st Runner-up
Puneet Beniwal
2nd Runner-up
Bharat Raj
Mister World 2014
Prateik Jain
(Top 10;Mister World Asia and Oceania)
Below is the complete list of Mister World India editions.
Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss Universe 2021
Lara Dutta, Miss Universe 2000 andMiss Intercontinental 1997
Sushmita Sen, Miss Universe 1994
Manushi Chhillar, Miss World 2017
Priyanka Chopra, Miss World 2000
Yukta Mookhey, Miss World 1999
Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997
Aishwarya Rai, Miss World 1994
Reita Faria, Miss World 1966
Srinidhi Shetty, Miss Supranational 2016
Asha Bhat, Miss Supranational 2014
Nicole Faria, Miss Earth 2010
Manasvi Mamgai, Miss Tourism International 2009
Priyanka Shah, Miss Tourism 2007
Sonal Chauhan, Miss Tourism 2005
Dia Mirza, Miss Asia Pacific 2000
Rohit Khandelwal,Mister World 2016
Prathamesh Maulingkar,Mister Supranational 2018
Celina Jaitley, Miss Universe 2001 - 4th Runner-up
Sangeeta Bijlani, Femina Miss India Universe 1980
Juhi Chawla, Femina Miss India Universe 1984
Sonu Walia, Femina Miss India Universe 1985
Mehr Jesia Rampal, Femina Miss India Universe 1986
Gul Panag, Femina Miss India 1999
Neha Dhupia, Femina Miss India Universe 2002
Tanushree Dutta, Femina Miss India Universe 2004
Puja Gupta, Femina Miss India Universe 2007
Simran Kaur Mundi, Femina Miss India Universe 2008
Parvathy Omanakuttan, Miss World 2008 - 1st Runner-up
Shruti Sharma, Femina Miss India World 2002
Sayali Bhagat, Femina Miss India World 2004
Natasha Suri, Femina Miss India World 2006
Sarah-Jane Dias, Femina Miss India world 2007
Manasvi Mamgai, Femina Miss India world 2010, Miss Tourism International 2008
Navneet Kaur Dhillon, Femina Miss India World 2013
Aditi Arya, Femina Miss India World 2015
Anukreethy Vas, Femina Miss India World 2018
Amruta Patki, Miss Earth Air 2006
Shamita Singha, Femina Miss India Earth 2001
Niharika Singh, Femina Miss India Earth 2005
Sobhita Dhulipala, Femina Miss India Earth 2013
Shonali Nagrani, Miss International 2003 - 1st Runner-up
Pooja Batra, Femina Miss India International 1993
Gauahar Khan, Femina Miss India International 2002
Vaishali Desai, Femina Miss India International 2005
Esha Gupta, Femina Miss India International 2007
Neha Hinge, Femina Miss India International 2010
Rochelle Rao, Femina Miss India International 2012
Meenakshi Chaudhary, Miss Grand International 2018 - 1st Runner-up
Vartika Singh, Miss Grand International 2015 - 2nd Runner-up
Anukriti Gusain, Miss Grand India 2017
Shweta Menon, Femina Miss India Asia Pacific 1994
Vishnu Raj Menon,Mister India World 2017