Femina Miss India
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, Femina also organizes Miss Diva separately which sends representatives to Miss Universe.
The reigning Femina Miss India titleholder is Suman Rao who was crowned by the outgoing titleholder Anukreethy Vas.
History
The first Miss India was Pramila, from Calcutta, who won in 1947. It was organised by the local press.after being crowned Miss India 1952. She was the first Indian woman to participate in the Miss Universe held in the United States in 1952
with former Indian Congress leader S.K. Patil, and two of the sponsors of the Miss India contest of 1952
in Mumbai. Miss India 1952 winner, Indrani Rahman and the Runner-up Suryakumari
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 ever Femina Miss India pageant was held in year 1964. Meher Castelino Mistri of Maharashtra was crowned the first ever 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 ever Femina Miss India Winner to get placed at any international beauty pageant.
In Earlier days, Femina Miss India used to crown three contestants, the winner used to represent India at Miss Universe and the runners-up were sent to Miss Asia Pacific and International Teen Princess. Later the second runner up represents India at Miss Teenage Intercontinental. On some occasions the 2nd Runner up or a finalist was sent to Queen of Pacific pageant from 1969 to 1975.
Zeenat Aman was the first ever 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.
Later, after acquiring the rights to send India's representatives to Miss World, Femina Miss India used to select three winners who were then sent to Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Asia Pacific International pageants, respectively.
In 1991, Femina also acquired the rights to send India's representatives to Miss International pageant and on some occasions the third winner represented India at Miss International and a finalist was sent to Miss Asia Pacific International or else the third winner was crowned as Femina Miss India Asia Pacific and used to represent India at Miss Asia Pacific International and a finalist was sent to Miss International.
In 1993 Miss Femina India, Vaishali Sood, daughter of Cdr 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 1994, after India's historic win at the International pageants, the organisation ended the practice of crowning a single winner and instead decided that the top three winners were designated as winners with equal visibility and prizes.
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 representend India in Miss International pageant.
In 2010, Tantra Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., 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 2013, The Times Group again acquired the rights to send India's representatives to the Miss Universe pageant and started a new pageant called Miss Diva. The first ever Miss Diva pageant was held in Mumbai on 5 September 2013. Manasi Moghe of Maharashtra was crowned Miss Diva Universe 2013. Manasi represented India at Miss Universe 2013 and placed in the top 10. Gurleen Grewal from Punjab was crowned Miss Diva International 2013. She represented India at Miss International 2013.
India in international pageants
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. Historically, the Femina Miss India pageant sent the winner of the pageant to the Miss Universe pageant and a runner up to Miss Asia Pacific pageant and on some occasions the 2nd runner up used to represent India at International Teen Princess contest, whereas Eve's Weekly, a rival women's publication sent the winner of its Miss India contest to Miss World and Miss International.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 ; 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, Priyanka Chopra 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.
, Femina Miss India Earth 2010 and Miss Earth 2010
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 ever 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 ever 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 ever Femina Miss India Universal Peace and Humanity won the first ever 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.
On some occasions the top finalists have represented India at some other international pageants like Miss Heritage, Miss Tourism International, Miss Tourism.
Femina Miss India also sends representatives to other international pageants like Miss United Continent and Miss Universal Peace and Humanity.
International victories
Indian winners in the Big Four
The following is the list of Indian winners in the Big Four international beauty pageants:| Pageant | Titles | Winning year | Winner |
| Miss World | 6 | - | - |
| Miss World | 6 | 1966 | Reita Faria |
| Miss World | 6 | 1994 | Aishwarya Rai |
| Miss World | 6 | 1997 | Diana Hayden |
| Miss World | 6 | 1999 | Yukta Mookhey |
| Miss World | 6 | 2000 | Priyanka Chopra |
| Miss World | 6 | 2017 | Manushi Chhillar |
| Miss Universe | 2 | - | - |
| Miss Universe | 2 | 1994 | Sushmita Sen |
| Miss Universe | 2 | 2000 | Lara Dutta |
| Miss Earth | 1 | 2010 | Nicole Faria |
The following is the list of Indian winners in various minor international pageants:
| Pageant | Titles | Winning year | Winner |
| Miss Supranational | 2 | 2014 | Asha Bhat |
| Miss Supranational | 2 | 2016 | Srinidhi Ramesh Shetty |
| Miss Asia Pacific World | 3 | - | - |
| Miss Asia Pacific World | 3 | 2012 | Himangini Singh Yadu |
| Miss Asia Pacific World | 3 | 2013 | Srishti Rana |
| Miss Asia Pacific World | 3 | 2014 | Shweta Raj |
| Miss Asia Pacific International | 3 | - | - |
| Miss Asia Pacific International | 3 | 1970 | Zeenat Aman |
| Miss Asia Pacific International | 3 | 1973 | Tara Anne Fonseca |
| Miss Asia Pacific International | 3 | 2000 | Dia Mirza |
| Miss Tourism | 2 | - | - |
| Miss Tourism | 2 | 2005 | Sonal Chauhan |
| Miss Tourism | 2 | 2007 | Priyanka Shah |
| Miss Teenage Intercontinental | 1 | 1978 | Elizabeth Anita Reddi |
| Miss World Amber / Miss Ambar Del Mundo | 1 | 1978 | Mala Rai Singhani |
| International Teen Princess | 1 | 1974 | Radha Bartake |
- ° In 1966 India won Miss World but the representative was sent by Eve's Weekly Miss India organisation.
- ^ In 2012 India won Miss Asia Pacific World 2012 but India's representative was sent by I Am She - Miss Universe India organisation.
- Asha Bhat, Srinidhi Ramesh Shetty and Srishti Rana were the winners of Miss Diva not Femina Miss India.
Multiple victories in the same year
| Year | Pageant | Winner | Number of titles |
| 1994 | Miss Universe | Sushmita Sen | 2 |
| 1994 | Miss World | Aishwarya Rai | 2 |
| 2000 | Miss Universe | Lara Dutta | 3 |
| 2000 | Miss World | Priyanka Chopra | 3 |
| 2000 | Miss Asia | Dia Mirza | 3 |
| 2017 | Miss World | Manushi Chhillar | 2 |
| 2016&2017 | Mister World | Rohit Khandelwal | 2 |
Competition irregularities
In 2008, president of Gladrags, Maureen Wadia, served a legal notice to the newly crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India Earth 2008, Harshita Saxena for violation of a two-year exclusive contract with Gladrags which 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 gave up the title and the crown passed on to Tanvi Vyas who represented India in the Miss Earth 2008 pageant held in November 2008. Harshita was later placed fourth in Miss India 2009 and represented India in Miss International 2009.In 1989, the winner Kalpana Pandit was found to have misrepresented her nationality ; she was stripped of her title and Dolly Mihas was declared winner.
In 2004, Lakshmi Pandit was initially declared as the winner but had to return the title as she was married ; Sayali Bhagat was ultimately declared as the winner.
Femina Miss India and Miss Diva winners from 2013–present
Femina Miss India editions
Representatives to Big Four pageants
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 and Miss Earth.;Color key
Current franchise
Miss Universe
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.Miss World
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.
Former franchise
Miss International
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.- India did not send delegates to Miss International in 1963–1967, 1972, 1977, 1989, 1990.
- From 1960 to 1988 Eve's Weekly Miss India sent India's representatives to Miss International pageant.
- In the year 2013, Miss Diva winner was sent to Miss International.
| Year | Delegate | State | Placement | Special Awards |
| 2014 | Jhataleka Malhotra | Maharashtra | Miss Internet 3rd Runner Up - Best National Costume | |
| 2013 | Gurleen Grewal | Punjab | 1st Runner Up - Miss Internet | |
| 2012 | Rochelle Maria Rao | Tamil Nadu | Top 15 | |
| 2011 | Ankita Shorey | Jammu & Kashmir | ||
| 2010 | Neha Hinge | Madhya Pradesh | Top 15 | |
| 2009 | Harshita Saxena | Goa | ||
| 2008 | Radha Brahmbhatt | Gujarat | ||
| 2007 | Esha Gupta | New Delhi | ||
| 2006 | Sonal Sehgal | West Bengal | Top 12 | |
| 2005 | Vaishali Desai | |||
| 2004 | Mihika Verma | Maharashtra | Top 15 | |
| 2003 | Shonali Nagrani | New Delhi | 1st Runner-Up | |
| 2002 | Gauhar Khan | Maharashtra | ||
| 2001 | Kanwal Toor | New Delhi | Top 15 | |
| 2000 | Gayatri Joshi | Maharashtra | Top 15 | |
| 1999 | Srikrupa Murali | Karnataka | ||
| 1998 | Shwetha Jaishanker | Tamil Nadu | 2nd Runner-Up | |
| 1997 | Diya Abraham | Kerala | 1st Runner-Up | |
| 1996 | Fleur Xavier | Maharashtra | ||
| 1995 | Priya Gill | |||
| 1994 | Fransesca Hart | |||
| 1993 | Pooja Batra | Punjab | Top 15 | |
| 1992 | Kamal Sandhu | New Delhi | ||
| 1991 | Preeti Mankotia | Karnataka | Top 15 | |
| 1988 | Shikha Swaroop | Maharashtra | ||
| 1987 | Erika Maria D'Souza | Maharashtra | Top 15 | |
| 1986 | Poonam Pahlet Gidwant | Maharashtra | ||
| 1985 | Vinita Seshadri Vasan | Bangalore | ||
| 1984 | Nalanda Ravindra Bhandar | West Bengal | Top 15 | |
| 1983 | Sahila Chadha | Punjab | ||
| 1982 | Betty O'Connor | Maharashtra | ||
| 1981 | Meenakshi Seshadri | Tamil Nadu | ||
| 1980 | Ulrika Karen Bredemeyer | Maharashtra | ||
| 1979 | Nita Pinto | Maharashtra | ||
| 1978 | Sabita Dhanrajgir | Punjab | ||
| 1976 | Nafisa Ali | Maharashtra | 2nd Runner-up | |
| 1975 | Indira Maria Bredemeyer | Maharashtra | 2nd Runner-Up | |
| 1974 | Leslie Jean Hartnett | New Delhi | ||
| 1972 | Indira Muthanna | Karnataka | ||
| 1971 | Samita Mukherjee | West Bengal | ||
| 1970 | Patricia D'Souza | New Delhi | Top 15 | |
| 1969 | Wendy Leslie Vaz | Maharashtra | ||
| 1968 | Sumita Sen | West Bengal | Top 15 | |
| 1962 | Sheila Chonkar | Maharashtra | ||
| 1961 | Diana Valentine | New Delhi | ||
| 1960 | Iona Pinto | Maharashtra | 1st Runner-Up |
Miss Earth
Femina Miss India dropped the Miss Earth Franchise in 2014 after Alankrita Sahai being the last representative from Miss Diva.- In 2019, Miss Divine Beauty obtained the right to send India's representative to Miss Earth
- In 2015, Glamanand Supermodel India obtained the rights to send India's representatives to Miss Earth.
- In 2014, Miss Diva winner was sent to Miss Earth pageant.
| Year | Delegate | State | Placement | Special Awards |
| 2014 | Alankrita Sahai | New Delhi | Miss Eco - Beauty Miss Earth Pagudpud Miss Hannah's Beach Resort Best in Casual Wear Best Evening Gown Miss Photogenic Besuty for a Cause Best in Swimsuit Best National Costume | |
| 2013 | Sobhita Dhulipala | Andhra Pradesh | Miss Photogenic Miss Earth Eco Beauty Miss Ever Bilena Miss Talent Best in Resort Wear | |
| 2012 | Prachi Mishra | Uttar Pradesh | Best in Swimsuit Miss Friendship Miss Congeniality Trivia Challenge Press Presentation Resorts Wear competition Evening Gown Competition Miss Photogenic I Love My Planet School Campaign | |
| 2011 | Hasleen Kaur | New Delhi | ||
| 2010 | Nicole Faria | Karnataka | Miss Earth 2010 | Miss Talent Miss Diamond Place |
| 2009 | Shriya Kishore | Maharashtra | Top 16 | |
| 2008 | Tanvi Vyas | Gujarat | ||
| 2007 | Pooja Chitgopekar | Karnataka | Miss Air | |
| 2006 | Amruta Patki | Maharashtra | Miss Air | Best in Long Gown |
| 2005 | Niharika Singh | Uttarakhand | ||
| 2004 | Jyoti Brahmin | West Bengal | Top 16 | |
| 2003 | Shweta Vijay | Kerala | ||
| 2002 | Reshmi Ghosh | West Bengal | ||
| 2001 | Shamita Singha | Maharashtra | Top 10 | Best in National Costume Miss Avon Miss Lux |
Representatives to minor international pageants
Current franchise
Miss Supranational
Femina Miss India and Miss Diva acquired the rights to send India representatives to Miss Supranational only from the year 2013.In the years 2011 and 2012, contestants were selected by Indian Princess pageant.
| Year | Delegate | State | Placement | Special Awards |
| 2020 | Aavriti Choudhary | Madhya Pradesh | TBA | TBA |
| 2019 | Shefali Sood | Uttar Pradesh | Top 25 | Miss Influencer - Top 10 |
| 2018 | Aditi Hundia | Rajasthan | Top 25 | |
| 2017 | Peden Ongmu Namgyal | Sikkim | Top 25 | Miss Talent - 2nd Runner-up Best in Swimsuit - 3rd Runner-up |
| 2016 | Srinidhi Ramesh Shetty | Karnataka | Miss Supranational 2016 | Miss Supranational - Asia and Oceania Miss Mobstar - 3rd Runner-up |
| 2015 | Aafreen Rachael Vaz | Karnataka | Top 10 | Miss Supranational - Asia and Oceania Miss Supranational Top Model - Top 10 Miss Internet - 1st Runner Up Best National Costume - Top 10 |
| 2014 | Asha Bhat | Karnataka | Miss Supranational 2014 | Miss Talented Miss Internet - Top 5 |
| 2013 | Vijaya Sharma | New Delhi | Top 20 | |
| 2012 | Gunjan Saini | New Delhi | ||
| 2011 | Michelle Almeda | Maharashtra | Top 20 | Miss Supranational - Asia and Oceania Miss Internet |
Miss Grand International
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.| Year | Delegate | State | Placement | Special Awards |
| 2019 | Shivani Jadhav | Chhattisgarh | Miss Popular - Top 10 Best National Costume - Top 20 | |
| 2018 | Meenakshi Choudhary | Haryana | 1st Runner-up | Miss Popular–Top 10 Best National Costume - Top 10 |
| 2017 | Anukriti Gusain | Uttarakhand | Top 20 | Best National Costume - Top 10 |
| 2016 | Pankhuri Gidwani | Uttar Pradesh | Best National Costume - Top 10 | |
| 2015 | Vartika Singh | Uttar Pradesh | 2nd Runner-up | Best Social Media Miss Popular–Top 10 Best National Costume–Top 20 |
| 2014 | Monica Sharma | New Delhi | Best National Costume - Top 20 | |
| 2013 | Rupa Khurana | New Delhi |
Miss United Continents
The representatives for Miss United Continents have been selected by Femina Miss India since the pageant's inception in 2013.| Year | Delegate | State | Placement | Special Awards |
| 2019 | Shreya Shanker | Bihar | ||
| 2018 | Gayatri Bharadwaj | Delhi | Top 10 | Best National Costume - 1st Runner Up |
| 2017 | Sana Dua | Jammu and Kashmir | Top 10 | |
| 2016 | Lopamudra Raut | Maharashtra | 2nd Runner-up | Best National Costume Miss Photogenic - 1st Runner-up |
| 2015 | Sushrii Shreya Mishraa | Odisha | 3rd Runner-up | Best National Costume Miss Photogenic |
| 2014 | Gail Nicole Da Silva | Goa | 1st Runner-up | Best National Costume Miss Photogenic |
| 2013 | Purva Rana | Himachal Pradesh | Vice Queen | Best National Costume - 2nd Runner-up |
Former Franchise
Miss Asia Pacific International
Miss Asia Pacific World
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.| Year | Delegate | Placement | Special Awards | Notes |
| 2016 | Akanksha Dhiman | Wing of Angel | ||
| 2014 | Swetha Raj | Miss Asia Pacific World 2014 – Season 5 | Miss Talent | Competition held to select a new titleholder for the year 2014. |
| 2014 | Anukriti Gusain | 4th Runner-up | ||
| 2013 | Srishti Rana | Miss Asia Pacific World 2013 | Best National Costume Miss Personality Miss Talent | |
| 2012 | Himangini Singh Yadu | Miss Asia Pacific World 2012 | Best in Evening Gown – 1st Runner-up | |
| 2011 | Tanvi Singla | 3rd Runner-up |