Pictures Courtesy Of:
Mohammed Jaffer
(SNAPS INDIA)
&
M. N. Akhtar

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
San Francisco, California
September 27th, 2003

PURVA MERCHANT OF INDIA IS
MISS INDIA WORLDWIDE 2003


In a glittering function organized by the New York-based IFC, Purva Merchant of India was crowned Miss India Worldwide 2003 at the Billy Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California on September 27.

Purva, 23, is a dentist from the city of Pune and was a finalist at the Femina Miss India Pageant held earlier this year. She received prizes totaling over $15,000, including a round-trip first-class ticket to India on Air India, $4,000 cash, an all-expense paid trip to South Africa, the United States, among other prizes. Purva was crowned by Santripti Vellody of UAE, the outgoing Miss India Worldwide.

Pooja Chitgopekar of New Zealand and Meghna Nagarajan of the United States were named first and second runners-up respectively, spreading this year's pageant award across three continents. The other two finalists were Shabnam Mohammed of South Africa and Rashi Chandhok of Australia. Pooja Chitgopekar also bagged the Best Talent award for her superb piano performance which included brief pieces by Beethoven, Bach, and a final rendition of Iqbal's "Saare Jahan se Acchha." The other subcontest winners were Lavaanya Ambur of Germany for Miss Beautiful Hair, Pooja Chitgopekar of New Zealand for Miss Photogenic, Meghna Nagarajan of the USA for Miss Beautiful Smile, Anjali Punjabi of Hong Kong for Miss Beautiful Eyes, Purva Merchant for Miss Congeniality, and Rashi Chandhok of Australia for Miss Beautiful Skin. Participants came from twenty-one countries across the globe.

Bollywood stars Anil Kapoor, Gulshan Grover, and Mahima Chaudhry rubbed shoulders with classical musicians Swapan Chaudhri and Ali Akbar Khan at the event emceed by Indian Television stars Shekhar Suman and Archana Puran Singh.

In the Indian and Evening Gown segment that followed, each contestant presented her best, after which top ten contestants were selected. These ten contestants later displayed their talent in the form of film-based dance, classical dances, acting, singing, poetry, and piano and sitar recital.

The panel of judges included Seema Andhare, Regional Director of Air-India, Alka Suman, fashion designer, Neelam Saran, co-Chairperson of IFC, Puneeta Kumar-Sinha, Investment Banker and Culture Activist, and Jyoti Chatterjee, President of NetGuru. Tabulation was done by Dharmangi Bhatia, CPA. SONY TV has aquired the TV broadcast rights of the pageant and will be showing it worldwide shortly.

"The pageant was altogether a great experience. All other contestants were very well prepared which made the competition very rewarding as well as challenging," said Kiranne Devi, contestant from France.

Dharmatma Saran, Founder of the Miss India Worldwide, thanked the sponsors and presented an appreciation plaque to Santripti Vellody, outgoing queen, for carrying out her duties in a most befitting manner. Said Dharmatma Saran, "We will continue to promote Indian values and performing arts among the Indian youth around the world through pageantry."

Purva Merchant being crowned by the outgoing queen Santripti Vellody
Pooja Chitgopeker - New Zealand
First Runner Up
Megna Nagarajan - USA
Second Runner Up
Shabnam Mohammed - South Africa
Top Five
Rashi Chandhok - Australia
Top Five
     
Laavanya Ambur - Germany
Miss Beautiful Hair
Pooja Chitgopeker - New Zealand
Miss Photogenic
Megna Nagarajan - USA
Miss Beautiful Smile
Pooja Chitgopeker - New Zealand
Best Talent
Anjali Punjabi - Hong Kong
Miss Beautiful Eyes
Purva Merchant - Miss India
Miss Congeniality
 
Rashi Candhok - Australia
Miss Beautiful Skin
 
     
Hosts of the pageant Shekhar Suman & Archana Puran Singh
Guest of Honor Anil Kapoor being interviewed by Shekhar Suman
Bollywood Actress Mahima Choudhary giving a dance performance
Mahima Choudhary being interviewed by Archana & Shekhar
Hollywood Actor William Moore (Son of James Bond fame Roger Moore) & Gulshan Grover being interviewed by Shekhar & Archana
The Bollywood Dancers giving a performance
     
Top Three
Top Three
Top Five
Seema Andhare Regional Director of Air India presenting a first class round trip ticket to India to Purva Merchant
Dharmatma Saran, Chief Organizer presenting a plaque & a check for $3000 to outgoing queen Santripti Vellody
Rajan Singh, Executive Vice-President of Sony Television crowning Miss Beautiful Eyes Anjali Punjabi of Hong Kong
Chief Organizer Dharmatma Saran & Neelam Saran with the Top Three
The Judges from left to right - Seema Andhare, Punita Kumar - Sinha, Alka Suman, Neelam Saran, Jyoti Chatterjee with Hosts Shekhar & Archana
Shekhar & Alka Suman, Neelam Saran with Top Three
Shekhar Suman with the Top Three
National Director of India Anjali Puri with her winner
Archana Puran Singh congratulating Purva Merchant while Santripti looks on
Organizer Satwinder Singh, Sanjay Singhania of Tanmay Jewelers & Dharmatma Saran with the winner
Shirlee Naidoo, Official Hair Stylist presenting a gift to Miss Beautiful Hair Laavanya Ambur of Germany
Shekhar Suman complimenting Santripti Vellody on her singing
Shekhar Suman interviewing the chairman of IFC Dharmatma Saran
Santripti Vellody with Pooja Chitkopeker
Dharmangi Bhatia, The Official CPA with Ankeeta Saran of IFC
Nadia Ramnath of Trinidad with Shekhar Suman
Judges having a difficult time
From right to left Seema Andhare, Neelam Saran and Alka Suman
Geeta Patel & associate of Shri Beauty with Anjali Punjabi of Hong Kong
Neelam Saran, Shekhar & Alka Suman, Seema Andhare with Miss India USA Meghna Nagarajan
     

CLICK HERE TO MEET THE CONTESTANTS FROM
MISS INDIA WORLDWIDE 2003

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