History and Evolution of Miss India Pageant
In 1964, the first Femina Miss India pageant took place where Meher Castelino Mistri from Maharashtra emerged as the first Femina Miss India. She was selected to represent India at Miss Universe 1964 which was in the United States and at Miss Nations 1964 in Spain.
After that, for over six decades, Miss India, a transformative platform, has impacted the lives of numerous talented young women. Organized by Femina, a women’s magazine owned by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd., the pageant underwent a significant evolution. Initially, from 1964 to 1975, the Miss India winner represented Miss Universe, with the runner-up delegated to Miss Asia Pacific.
In 1976, Miss India secured the Miss World Franchise, leading to the selection of winners for Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Asia Pacific in the following years.
List of Femina Miss India Winners from 1947-2023
Miss India pageant has had great significance in the field of beauty and empowerment as it serves as a platform that does not care about the physical attractiveness of a person. It sees beyond physical traits which include various cultural backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities which showcase the rich Indian beauty.
While beauty is the main parameter the pageant also gives a strong importance to intellect, communication skills, and awareness of social issues.