Losing out in that round and ending up as First Runner-Up was New Jersey's Diva Ranade, an aspiring model and medical professional. She is the reigning 'Miss India NJ-PA-DE'. Second Runner-Up in the pageant was New York's Subrina Dhammi, an aspiring Journalist who finished with that position for the second year running. She is the reigning 'Miss India-New York'.
The Finalists were Sonia Seernani (GA), the reigning 'Miss India Georgia', and Juhi Shukla (VA), who is a second-time competitor.
The Top Ten was completed by: Priyanka Gupta (AZ), Sumehra Premji (GA), Antara (MI), Julie Kathrotia (NC) and Shweta (NY).

Several special awards were also handed out during the pageant:
Most Beautiful Hair: Diva Ranade
Most Beautiful Smile: Julie Kathrotia
Bharatmatrimony.com People's Choice: Juhi Shukla
Miss Photogenic: Reshoo Pande
Most Beautiful Eyes: Sumehra Premji
Miss Congeniality: Shweta
and Best Talent: Julie Kathrotia

The show began an hour late, as most Indian programs tend to. The opening featured the reigning queen, Meghna, dancing as the contestants came onstage. Eventually, the contestants introduced themselves in the Indian segment, with the local girls taking the most applause. Miss India USA 2001, Stacy Issac, and Miss India USA 1999, Sharon Gill, emceed the event and tried to handle the numerous technical problems felt throughout the night. As the delegates continued into the eveningwear segment, we heard more about their aspirations and hobbies. A quick cut left only ten girls in the competition.

After a quick change, the top ten began their talent, with all ten opting to dance this year. The obvious crowd favorite in this category was Julia Kathrotia (NC), who dressed her backside as Michael Jackson and used the remixed version of "Muqabla" to bring in Indian dance with a touch of the 80's. Once the cut was made to the five, only one question for each determined their final weighting. This was all, of course, intertwined with at least a dozen performances by various entertainers or groups, which led the show to a nearly four-and-a-half hour length.

B4U is supposed to televise the pageant about a month later. The pageant this year was organized very quickly and showed a surprisingly low amount of delegates, with big Indian states like Texas and California going completely unrepresented. Many state competitions were not held at all, including the IFC's own 'Miss India New York' contest.

The contestants of Miss India USA 2004

1) Antara (Michigan) - 18, undergraduate; Talent: Film Dance, 'Dhaiyya Dhaiyya' 2) Batul (Illinois) - 20, Pharmacy Student 3) Bhavika (New Jersey) 4) Diva Ranade (New Jersey) - 18, Biomedical Engineering Student; Talent: Fusion Dance, 'The Spirit of Rangeela' 5) Juhi Shukla (Virginia) - 22, Medical Student; Talent: Film Dance, 'Rangini' 6) Julia Kathrotia (North Carolina) - 21, Marketing Student; Talent: Dramatic Fusion Dance, 'Muqabla' 7) Khushboo (Tennessee) - 20, Pre-medical student 8) Krisa Tailor (North Carolina) - 18 9) Meghna Patel (Kansas) - 24 10) Neema (Connecticut) - 21, Liberal Arts Graduate, aspiring actress 11) Nina (Ohio)

12) Pallavi Sharma (Maryland) - 20 13) Priyanka Gupta (Arizona) - 21, Pre-medical student; Talent: Film Dance, "Oh Piya" 14) Puja (Pennsylvania) - 18, Pre-medical student 15) Reshoo Pande (Mississippi) - 21, Accounting Student; Talent: Mixed Film Dance, various pieces. 16) Shweta (New York) - 21; Talent: Film Dance, "Man Mohini" 17) Sonia Seernani (Georgia) - Talent: Bharatnatyam Dance, "Man Mohini" 18) Sowmyaa (New York) - 17, High School Student 19) Subrina Dhummi (New York) - 21, Journalism Student; Talent: Bharatnatyam Dance, "Jiya Jale" 20) Sumehra Premji (Georgia) - 18, Computer Science Student; Talent: Fusion Dance, Britney Spears-Jazz-Tap-Bhangra 21) Sunitha Joseph (Virginia) - 21, Software Engineering Student 22) Swati Sharma (Washington, D.C.) - 23

Miss India Worldwide 2005: Returning to India Special Note: Miss India Worldwide has been shifted to January 9th, 2005. Instead of Delhi as originally planned, it will be held in Mumbai. Plans have fallen through to host the Miss India Worldwide Pageant in Delhi. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, a global conference gathering for NRI's, will be held in conjunction with the event. Contestants chosen so far (Unconfirmed) Miss Indianz (New Zealand) 2004: Shardae Mitha Miss India UK 2004: Amrita Hunjan Miss India France 2004: Anusha Sherer Miss India Holland 2004: Reshma van der Vliet Miss India Worldwide Canada 2004: Unknown Miss India Singapore Worldwide 2004: Thebashini Jega Jeevan Miss India Worldwide-India 2004: August 29th Miss India Australia 2004: Vimala Raman Miss India USA 2004: Reshoo Pande Miss India Kenya 2004: Miss India South Africa 2004: Suraya Naidoo Miss India Trinidad/Tobago 2004: Lisa Dookie

After a gap of several years, the bustling metropolis of Mumbai will welcome back the Miss India Worldwide Pageant

Miss India Worldwide 2003: Homeland Takes the Crown Again The 13th annual Miss India Worldwide Pageant was held at the Bill Graham Civic Center in San Francisco, California on September 27th. 22 contestants from around the world, all of Indian descent, competed for the coveted title, but at the end of the spectacle, held in conjunction with the Global Indian Awards, a winner emerged in the form of 23 year-old Dr. Purva Merchant, Miss India herself. She is from Pune and is currently a dentist. Purva is also known for taking part in Femina Miss India 2003. She impressed in the talent portion with a unique simultaneous dance and narrative that covered the multiple facets of the Indian woman. The First Runner-Up was Miss New Zealand, Pooja Chitgopeker of Remuera, a high school graduate. Second Runner-Up was Miss USA, Meghna Nagarajan, an engineering student from Georgia. Rounding out the top five finalists were Miss Australia, Rashi Chandhok and Miss South Africa, Shabnam Mohammed. The show aired on Sony Entertainment Television India in February. The remainder of the top ten were from: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, UAE and the United Kingdom. SPECIAL AWARDS: Miss Beautiful Hair - Laavanya Ambur (GERMANY) Miss Photogenic - Pooja Chitgopeker (NEW ZEALAND) Miss Beautiful Smile - Megna Nagarajan (USA) Best Talent - Pooja Chitgopeker (NEW ZEALAND) Miss Beautiful Eyes - Anjali Punjabi (HONG KONG) Miss Congeniality - Purva Merchant (INDIA) Miss Beautiful Skin - Rashi Chandhok (AUSTRALIA)

Dr. Purva Merchant carried off yet another 'Miss India Worldwide' title for India, itself.

All of the international finalists of the Miss India Worldwide Contest 2003 (Courtesy of the India Festival Committee Official Web Site)
This year, the greatest number of Indian pageant took place in respective countries. Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia and New Zealand all held a national final for the first time ever. Other countries, such as the USA and Netherlands, continued long traditions and other national directors found suitable representatives for their countries.

Looking Back On: Miss India USA 2003

Photo(s) and Information: India Festival Committee and Kashish Chopra (Contestant)...Thank You! 24 young women of Indian origin competed in the 2003 Miss India USA Pageant in Edison, New Jersey (August 24th). The emerging winner was Miss India-Georgia, Meghna Nagarajan. She is a sophomore at Georgia Tech and plans to get a Masters in electrical engineering, following it up with an MBA. Over the years, she has learned Carnatic, Hindustani, and Western classical music to add to her repertoire: She won the talent competition by performing both Ila Arun and Alka Yagnik's voices to the song "Choli Ke Peche". Georgia wins the Miss India USA title after 12 years! The First Runner-Up was Miss India Arizona, Rekha Muddaraj from Phoenix (also Miss Beautiful Smile and Supermodel in Style), while the Second Runner-Up was Miss India New York, Subrina Dhummi from Hopewell Junction. The remaining finalists were Sheena Patel from Massachusetts and Anjali Bhardwaj from New York. Also making the top ten were: Bidisha Sinha from New Jersey, Diva Ranade from New York, Kashish Chopra from Massachusetts (Also Miss Congeniality), Rachna Khatau from Illinois, Rohini Jain from Georgia (Also 'Miss Photogenic' and Shama Anand from Utah. Palvi Waghela from Texas was 'Miss Beautiful Hair'. (LEFT) Subrina Dhammi, a 20 year-old Junior at Syracuse University, majoring in English and Broadcast Journalism, was named Miss India New York 2003 (PHOTO: IFC); (RIGHT)Miss India Arizona 2003: Rekha Muddaraj from Phoenix (Photo: Miss India AZ Site)

Left to Right:Meghna Nagarajan (Georgia), Sheena Patel (Massachusetts), Subrina Dhammi (New York), Rekha Muddaraj (Arizona), and Anjali Bharadwaj (New York) The show opened to a dance number by outgoing Miss India USA Priya Arora. After Western eveningwear and Indianwear segments, ten delegates went on to perform their talents, as the show was emcee'd by Stacy Issac, Miss India USA 2001, and Obaid Kadwani, a TV personality and model. Five finalists answered questions for their last 'test', and when asked how she defined success, Meghna Nagarajan replied: "It is to recognize your limitations and surpass them". Meghna will now beging preparing for the Miss India Worldwide contest on September 27th in San Francisco, where competitors from as far and wide as France, Bahrain, Singapore, Trinidad and Australia will come together. Contestants of Miss India USA 2003 Representing the Northeast: Akta Patel (MD), Anjali Bhardwas (NY), Bidisha Sinha (NJ), Diva Ranade (NY), Kashish Chopra (MA), Lakshmi Potti (MD), Poonam Balani (NJ), Sheba Rizvi (NJ), Sheena Patel (MA), and Subrina Dhammi (NY) Representing the South: Meghna Nagarajan (GA), Julie Lathortia (NC), Neha Gupta (TX), Palvi Waghela (TX), Praneet Gill (TX), Rohini Jain (GA) Representing the Midwest: Bhranti Trivedi (OH), Kunwar Singh (MN), Lisa Mehta (IL), Rachna Khatau (IL) and Tanvi Gipta (WI) Representing the West: Monica Singh (WA), Rekha Muddaraj (AZ), Shama Anand (UT) and Simi Dhall (CA)

Miss India Worldwide 2002 Miss India-Dubai, Santripti Vellody, was crowned Miss India Worldwide 2002 in Durban, South Africa. She also won the BEST TALENT award. First Runner-Up: Priya Arora, Miss India - USA Second Runner-Up: Rohini Banerjee, Miss India - India Semi-Finalists Canada, Kiran Shergrill United Kingdom, Suky Sangha South Africa, Sorisha Naidoo Malaysia, Jasminder Chahal France, Nidhya Palliakkara Zambia, Anjulie Hira Australia, Lalenya Brown.

Special Awards Most Beautiful Eyes: USA, Priya Arora Most Beautiful Hair: United Kingdom, Suky Kaur Sangha Most Beautiful Smile: Singapore, Gayathri Unnikrishnan Miss Congeniality and Most Beautiful Skin: India, Rohini Banerjee Miss Personal Style: France, Nidhya Palliakkara Miss Photogenic Miss Techno-Talent: Zambia, Anjulie Hira. Words from Santripti: "I had prepared myself to sing, 'I'll always love you'. But two-hours before the talent round I lost my voice. When I began singing I realised that I couldn't take the pitch very high. So I stopped the music, apologised and explained my state to the judges and did an impromptu act. I sang one verse of Carnatic classical, a bit of Hindustani classical and ended with a verse from an Arabic track without any music. I won the talent round and I think that's what made a big difference in the final round." "With a Punjabi mother and a Keralite father, I have been brought up in an inter-community home. I hope I also get married to someone from a totally different culture so that I can continue what I'm seeing," she said. "It was a very tough task for the judges and difficult to evaluate. Miss India Dubai consistently scored well on average and Miss India was exceptionally good, but unfortunately only one can win," South African businessman Sayed Mia, the head of the panel of international judges, told IANS.

2001: Surikha Sukhdeo, South Africa

2000: Ritu Upadhyay, USA

1999: Aarti Chabria, India

The Miss India Worldwide family continues to expand year after year, with regional pageants established in: Canada, USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, United Kingdom, Netherlands, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other countries.

While a lot of contestants are still picked through an application process, there are a number of preliminary pageants popping up just about everywhere.
- Miss India Washington (WA State)
- Miss India Oregon
- Miss India California, Pacific, San Fransisco, West Coast, et al (California)
- Miss India Arizona
- Miss India Texas
- Miss India Midwest (Illinois and other Midwestern states)
- Miss India Michigan
- Miss India Georgia
- Miss India D.C. (Girls in Virginia, Maryland and D.C.)
- Miss India New Jersey (2003 with have a joint pageant with Pennsylvania)
- Miss India New York
- Miss India New England (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, or Connecticut)
In addition, several more states have state directors who may choose contestants at their own discrimination. Contestants have come from as far and wide as West Virginia, Kansas, Iowa, Kentucky and Delaware.

Miss India USA: Archives

Miss India USA 2002: Arizona, Priya Arora 1st Runner-Up: Miss Georgia - Gayatri Patel 2nd Runner-Up: Miss New York - Megha Lathigara Finalists: Miss Florida June Dhar Miss Georgia Rohini Jain ------------------------- Miss California Arjot Sandhu Miss Illinois Rosie Thakker Miss Georgia Vinita Thaper Miss New York Sonpreet Brar Miss Texas Farzana Virnani Miss Beautiful Eyes: Roma Patel, CT Miss Beautiful Face: Priya Arora, AZ Miss Beautiful Smile: Gayatri Patel, GA Priya Arora, a 20 year-old Senior at the University of Arizona majoring in Finance and Accounting, was crowned Miss India USA on August 31st in Long Beach, California. She beat 28 contestants for the title. Priya was earlier crowned Miss India-Arizona on August 10th, organized by Arthy Kumar-Chadha. Representing the Midwest: Hema Sathia (IL), Rosie Thakker (IL), Tanya Madhan (KS) Representing the South: Asha Verghese (KY), Farzana Virnani (TX), Ami Patel (TX), Gagandeep Grover (GA), Vinita Thaper (GA), June Dhar (FL), Rohini Jain (GA), Gayatri Patel (GA), Suanga Kalra (GA) Representing the Northeast: Roma Patel (CT), Jessica David (NJ), Megha Kathigara (NY), Shveta Sinha (MA), Sonpreet Bharia (NY), Amrita Persaud (NY), Shilpa Patel (DE), Neerja Soni (NJ), Bijal Patel (MA) and Anu Karna (RI) Representing the West: Arjot Sandhu (CA), Pooja Jain (CA), Priya Arora (AZ), Amy Patel (AZ), Praneet Kailey (CA), Neeta Sharma (WA)

Miss India USA 2001: Stacy Issac, Florida 1st Runner-Up: Miss Virginia - Uzma Enayatullah (Miss India D.C. 2001) 2nd Runner-Up: Miss Georgia - Pareeta Mehta (First Runner-Up, Miss India Georgia) Finalists: Payal Patel, Arizona Priya Choksi, Texas (First Runner-Up, Miss India Texas) Semi-Finalists Tiffany Samuel, Pennsylvania Parool Vaidya, Massachusetts (First Runner-Up, Bollywood Talent Boston Modelling) Ekta Bhatt, California (Miss India Pacific) Sushila Chanana, California (First Runner-Up, Miss India West Coast) Amrita Shergill, New York (Top Five, Miss India New York) Miss Congeniality: Anahita Dua, Wisconsin Miss Beautiful Smile: Jigna Chitalia, New Hampshire Miss Beautiful Eyes: Amrita Shergill, New York Best Talent: Stacey Issac, Florida Sulekha.com Miss Photogenic: Stacey Issac, Florida Representing the Midwest: Anahita Dua (Wisconsin), Payal Kapur (Kansas), Roohi Khan (Illinois), Puja Lalmalani (Illinois), Ritu Narang (Illinois), Nehal Patel (Indiana), Sonal Patel (Iowa), Sonali Desai (Michigan), Sejal Sheth (Missouri) and Sandhya Vishwanathan (Minnesota) Representing the South: Priya Choksi (Texas), Roshni Desai (Georgia), Uzma Enayatullah (Virginia), Angela Gupta (Mississippi), Stacy Issac (Florida), Pareeta Mehta (Goergia), Artee Patel (Texas) Representing the Northeast: Dipa Anitia (Massachusetts), Sonia Badreshia (New Jersey), Jigna Chitalia (New Hampshire), Sarikha Chopra (West Virginia), Sonia Mukherji (Maryland), Manisha Panwalla (Pennsylvania), Anima Patel (Connecticut), Reena Puri (New York), Vandana Rupani (New Jersey), Tiffany Samuel (Pennsylvania), Amrita Shergill (New York) and Parool Vaidya (Massachusetts) Representing the West: Ekta Bhatt (California), Sushila Chainana (California), Payal Patel (Arizona), Sheba Pinky (California), Vidya Plainfield (Oregon), and Pooja Sharma (Washington) Union County Arts Center, Rahway, NJ, November 2001

Miss India USA 2000: Ritu Upadhyay, Illinois 1st Runner-Up: Anjula Shukla, Virginia 2nd Runner-Up: Apra Bhandari, New York Finalists: Amrapali Ambegaonkar of California Nain Khera of North Carolina LaGuardia Marriot, New York City, June 3rd, 2000

Miss India USA 1999: Sharon Gill, California 1st Runner-Up: Amy Shah, Miss India Georgia 2nd Runner-Up: Teena Sukhramwala, Miss India Delaware Finalists: Chitra Khanvilkar of California Apra Bhandari of India New York. Fairmount Hotel, San Jose, CA, February 6th, 1999

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