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Poise, intelligence, talent and, of course, beauty the winner of the upcoming Miss India pageant in Stamford must have all those qualities, says organizer Anita Bhat. But there'll be an added judging category that's never been part of any other pageant.
"For the first time in the world, we're using BMI body mass index as a selection criterion," says Anita, adding that the purpose of the pageant is to emphasize healthy practices, positive self-image and cultural acceptance as integral elements of beauty.
The second annual Miss India Connecticut and Miss India Teen Connecticut Pageant will take place in Oct. 3 at the Palace. Anita, president and CEO of presenting organization Diva America, Inc., is organizing the pageant with a host of city leaders. They include Stamford first lady Maureen Pavia, who chairs the Advisory Committee, and prominent members of Stamford's Indian-American community.
It is a community that is growing here as well as the rest of the state, according to pageant organizers, who say some 50,000 Indians currently live in Connecticut. About 10 percent of those are students ages 14 to 25, and that is the group to which the pageant is targeted, says Anita.
"We want assimilation between Indians and Americans," she says. "We are training our youth to respect our culture and accept other cultures."
Self-acceptance stemming from healthy practices is key to that goal, says Anita, noting that young women often adopt a distorted view of beauty from popular culture. The theme of this year's pageant is "Beauty With Health."
There's still time to become a contestant. Applicants must be unmarried Connecticut residents of Indian origin between the ages of 18 and 27 (14 and 17 for Miss India Teen). For other eligibility requirements and application information, visit www.missindiact.com or call (203) 274-3113.
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