Miss Diva

Miss Diva is a part of Femina Miss India pageant that primarily selects India's representatives to Miss Universe, one of the Big Four major international beauty pageants. The pageant also sends representative to Miss Supranational.^[1]

The reigning Miss Diva winners are Nehal Chudasama, Aditi Hundia and Roshni Sheoran.

History

After Miss Universe Organization awarded back the franchise to Bennett, Coleman and Co., a separate pageant Miss Diva - 2013 was conducted to send representative to Miss Universe. In earlier days Femina Miss India used to send its winner to compete at Miss Universe pageant. But in 2010, a separate pageant, I Am She - Miss Universe India was conducted by Tantra Entertainment Private limited, in collaboration with former Miss Universe and popular Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen, to send India's representatives to Miss Universe.

After 2012, Sushmita Sen and Tantra entertainment announced they would be relinquishing the license for Miss Universe and hence Miss Diva 2013 was organized by Femina Miss India Organization.^[2][3]

Miss Diva Universe 2013 Manasi Moghe, the first winner of Miss Diva pageant, later placed in the top 10 at Miss Universe 2013

The first ever Miss Diva pageant was held on 5 September 2013 in Mumbai. Fourteen candidates were shortlisted from all across the country to compete at the main event. Manasi Moghe from Mumbai was crowned the first ever "Miss Diva Universe" by Miss Asia Pacific 1970 and Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman, Gurleen Grewal from Punjab was crowned "Miss Diva International" by Miss Universe Canada 2012, Sahar Biniaz^[4] and Srishti Rana from Faridabad was crowned "Miss Diva Asia Pacific World" by Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon.^[5][6]

International pageants

In 2013, Srishti Rana won Miss Asia Pacific World 2013 and became the second Indian to win the title. She was crowned by the outgoing titleholder Himangini Singh Yadu from India as well.^[7][8] This gave India a back-to-back victory in the pageant. Rana is the first ever Miss Diva winner to win any international title.^[9] In 2014, India again won the pageant, making it the only country to win any pageant three years in a row. (Many other countries such as Venezuela have also won consecutive pageant awards)

In 2014, Asha Bhat competed at the sixth edition of Miss Supranational and won the pageant.^[10] Asha is the first Indian and second Asian to win the said pageant, the first Asian to win Miss Supranational is Mutya Datul from Philippines.^[11]

In 2016, Srinidhi Ramesh Shetty was then sent to Miss Supranational. She bagged the title of Miss Supranational at the end of the event. This is the 2nd time India won this pageant and both were send by Miss Diva.

Miss Diva Supranational 2016 Srinidhi Shetty, who later became the second Miss Supranational from India.

Miss Diva titleholders

Miss Diva editions

References