From its humble beginnings in a Durban cinema, the Miss India South Africa Pageant has celebrated its 25th anniversary here by crowning its latest winner who will compete with counterparts from over 20 diaspora countries for the Miss India Worldwide title.
"Each year we have had a glittering event and our winners have travelled the world to represent our community in some of the greatest capitals of the world," said Farook Khan, one of the founders of the South African leg of the international contest that was started by Dharmatma Saran in New York nearly three decades ago.
Several regional contests are held annually across South Africa, from which finalists participate in the gala finale where they showcase their talent through modelling Eastern and Western clothing and performing a cultural item, usually an Indian dance.
"Of the 24 participants, two of them, Sarika Sukhdeo and Kajal Lutchminarain, went on to become the global winners," Khan added as he outlined how the event was more than just a beauty pageant, with most of the contestants being young Indian women who had professional careers as doctors, engineers, accountants and academics.
Mechanical engineer Supriya Surjoo of Johannesburg beat 17 other contestants, including her doctor sister Anjuli to be crowned Miss India South Africa 2016, with Alisha Authbeharie in second place and Aishwarya Bedesy third.
The winner's package of prizes includes a Bollywood audition in India.
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