Bhimani gets one-year internship at Subhash Ghai’s film school in Mumbai.
By The American Bazaar Staff
NEW YORK: Nidhi Bhimani, a resident of West Hartford, was judged the winner of The Miss India CT Pageant 2014. Devisha Patel was the pageant’s first runner-up, while Shivani Jonn was declared the second runner-up.
Bhimani will have the opportunity to attend Bollywood film producer and director Subash Ghai’s Whistling Woods International film school in Mumbai, for a one-year internship.
Other special award winners are: Janessa Patel – Miss Smile; Vinali Patel – Miss Catwalk; Nisha Singh – Miss Photogenic; Siddhi Patel – Miss Congeniality; Shivani Jonn – Miss Talent; and Krushangi Maisuria – Miss Best Dressed and Rozana Tamis – Miss Face Book.
Anita Bhat, President and CEO of Diva America Inc., who organized the biannual event, took pride in saying that Miss India Connecticut is the first beauty pageant to introduce BMI (Body Mass Index) as one of the selection criteria for the contestants.
“We believe that the Fashion Industry influences our next generation in its attitude towards health and fitness. To target the Fashion Industry, we have introduced BMI and we hope that by bringing this awareness, we can help reduce obesity, anorexia, bulimia, low self-esteem and depression amongst the next generation. If we succeed in bringing about this change in other beauty pageants, it will be historic,” Bhat said.
This year’s pageant, with the theme “Shakti – Strength of a Woman” was hosted by India Association of Greater Hartford. It was a sold-out event with 1,000 people attending the show at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, CT, on September 21. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy and Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Seggara extended a warm welcome to the pageant and released the souvenir brochure.
Following a cocktail reception, sponsored by Indian Master Chef Krishna Pandey, who is also the owner of Haveli Restaurant, attendees of the Miss India CT 2014 Pageant made their way to their seats at the theater. Over the next three hours, the audience was entertained and enthralled by the talent demonstrations and colorful dresses worn by the 15 pageant contestants, dance performances, knockout medleys from local artists, and hilarious stand-up comedy, according to a press release.
Bollywood choreographer Rajeev Khinchi conducted the choreography and dances. Malavika Vidwans, president of Sneha, a non-profit service organization empowering women, gave a talk too.
Matt Scott, meteorologist from Hartford’s Fox Channel, and Miss Asia Pacific Parmita Kurada were the emcees. Celebrity chef Hari Nayak, actress Manya, designer Anne Agoren, Baldwin Media owner Ann Baldwin, Yale World Fellow Parmesh Sahani and veteran broadcaster Al Terzi were the pageant’s panel of judges.