Quest for the best

A bevy of smart, savvy and pretty participants compete to go into the Miss and Mrs India Quest finals

It was a night of glitz, glamour and some jitters for the participants of the Miss and Mrs India Quest Pageant 2013 as they competed in the pre-selection round to go into the finals of the contest. For many, it was their first time up on stage and the ladies were certainly feeling a level of nervousness about strutting the catwalk. The camaraderie between the contestants was obvious, with many of them sharing tips and calming each other’s nerves. It was their night to shine, and the ladies were soon ready to make an appearance that would get them into the finals of the MIQ 2013 pageant.

The personality round and launch of the pageant was held on March 22 at The Heritage Hotel on Bourke Street. The Indian beauties were given a minute each to introduce themselves, and the four judges present tested the contestant’s question and answer skills.

The second annual Miss and Mrs India Quest Pageant 2013 pageant was organised by Anamika Srivastava of Charismix Events. She strongly believes that pageants allow a woman to step out of her comfort zone.

“Doing something different and trying something new boosts one’s self-esteem,” she said.

The twenty contestants were from different walks of life, from students to geriatric workers, naturopathy doctors to models, teachers to IT professionals – the ladies had resumes that impressed and looks to kill for.

For Anamika, a pageant winner herself, the success of an Indian woman lies in her being her unique self.

“Sometimes in the Indian community, a woman tries to fulfil the needs of others, often neglecting herself in the process. She feels suffocated. She needs to be accepted for the way she is, as she is,” said Anamika, herself the mother of a five-year old.

“Family is important and at the same time, it is important to be successful in your career as well. When a woman is authentic in her passion, success definitely follows with the support of her family,” she added.

And the contestants in the MIQ 2013 pageant resonated with this ideal, as they were supported by an audience of over 200, comprising among others, of partners, family and friends. The event continued late into the night.

The Mr Melbourne pageant was also introduced this year and Anamika hopes it will be a platform for men to showcase their talent, learn new skills and network. The finals in Australia will be held in July, and the winners of the Miss and Mrs India Quest 2013 pageant will represent India in an international pageant held in the United States of America. Its exciting times ahead for these multi-talented ladies.

Vani Silvarathi