Jumana crowned Miss IndiaNZ 2009
September 8 2009
Eighteen-year-old Aucklander Jumana Shakeer is the new Miss IndiaNZ.
The Macleans College student, originally from Mumbai, was crowned Miss IndiaNZ 2009 in a night of glitz and glamour at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland on Saturday, September 5.
Jumana, who will now go on to represent New Zealand at the Miss India Worldwide contest in Durban in March, is known for her zest for life – having been involved in bungy jumping, hiking, surfing and rugby – at some stage of her life.
Jumana beat 19 other beauties to clinch the coveted crown in the eighth contest which showcased the beauty of young Kiwi Indian women and their talents.
First runner-up was Denisha Ramanandi, 19-year-old Commerce student at Auckland University and Prerna Sinha, a 21-year-old Auckland web developer, was second runner-up.
Other winners: Miss Charity Queen, Sirat Sodhi; Miss Beautiful Smile, Sirat Sodhi; Miss Photographic Model, Dagny Rocha; Miss Friendship, Tasmeeta Patel, Dagny Rocha and Suchitra Venkat. Miss Public Choice Photogenic, Harita Gandhi; Miss Potential Model, Varsha Donthi Reddy, Miss Personality, Suchitra Venkat; Miss Beautiful Hair; Kiran Dhaliwal; Miss Talent, Mia Guria.
“Although a true community celebration, Miss IndiaNZ has been a great challenge for the contestants wanting to be the next Miss IndiaNZ,” said Dharmesh Parikh, the man behind the show.
“With due prestige and acclamation that this event has gained over the past eight years, contestants were insured equal footing in this event.
“Trained and choreographed by one of the most popular celebrities of New Zealand, Colin Mathura-Jeffree, all contestants did just that which was required to put on a great event yet compete wholeheartedly in Miss IndiaNZ 2009.”
The show started with all contestants took stage in a black sari with a koru design printed on them.
A similar outfit was seen at Miss IndiaNZ 2004 where contestants appeared in black sari with the Silver Fern printed on it.
Creative director Swapna Parikh wanted to make a strong fashion statement that Kiwi Indians can actually incorporate Maori values and traditions and give Kiwi Indians a unique identity, Parikh said.
Many of the contestants spoke in Maori language during their introductions. “This shows that the youth of New Zealand have opted to take the rich Kiwi cultural values into the next generation.”
Parikh said the focus this year was to have the event more suited for TV audiences, with the help of Stratos Television. The event will be screened on Stratos TV on Saturday, September 12, during prime time.
More than $1000 was raised by the contestants for Multiple Sclerosis (Auckland). Calendars with contestants’ photos were sold and all funds raised waas directly deposited into MS Auckland account by the contestants.
Miss Charity Queen was awarded to Sirath Sodhi, who also was crowned as Miss Beautiful Smile. Sirat alone raised $325 for MS Auckland.
The audience not only enjoyed wide range of cultural items and dazzling catwalks but, also took home a very sensitive message of stopping child abuse. A dance item performed by small children communicated the importance of not ignoring child abuse problem which currently has been exposed nationwide.
Eighteen-year-old Aucklander Jumana Shakeer is the new Miss IndiaNZ.
The Macleans College student, originally from Mumbai, was crowned Miss IndiaNZ 2009 in a night of glitz and glamour at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland on Saturday, September 5.
Jumana, who will now go on to represent...
Eighteen-year-old Aucklander Jumana Shakeer is the new Miss IndiaNZ.
The Macleans College student, originally from Mumbai, was crowned Miss IndiaNZ 2009 in a night of glitz and glamour at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland on Saturday, September 5.
Jumana, who will now go on to represent New Zealand at the Miss India Worldwide contest in Durban in March, is known for her zest for life – having been involved in bungy jumping, hiking, surfing and rugby – at some stage of her life.
Jumana beat 19 other beauties to clinch the coveted crown in the eighth contest which showcased the beauty of young Kiwi Indian women and their talents.
First runner-up was Denisha Ramanandi, 19-year-old Commerce student at Auckland University and Prerna Sinha, a 21-year-old Auckland web developer, was second runner-up.
Other winners: Miss Charity Queen, Sirat Sodhi; Miss Beautiful Smile, Sirat Sodhi; Miss Photographic Model, Dagny Rocha; Miss Friendship, Tasmeeta Patel, Dagny Rocha and Suchitra Venkat. Miss Public Choice Photogenic, Harita Gandhi; Miss Potential Model, Varsha Donthi Reddy, Miss Personality, Suchitra Venkat; Miss Beautiful Hair; Kiran Dhaliwal; Miss Talent, Mia Guria.
“Although a true community celebration, Miss IndiaNZ has been a great challenge for the contestants wanting to be the next Miss IndiaNZ,” said Dharmesh Parikh, the man behind the show.
“With due prestige and acclamation that this event has gained over the past eight years, contestants were insured equal footing in this event.
“Trained and choreographed by one of the most popular celebrities of New Zealand, Colin Mathura-Jeffree, all contestants did just that which was required to put on a great event yet compete wholeheartedly in Miss IndiaNZ 2009.”
The show started with all contestants took stage in a black sari with a koru design printed on them.
A similar outfit was seen at Miss IndiaNZ 2004 where contestants appeared in black sari with the Silver Fern printed on it.
Creative director Swapna Parikh wanted to make a strong fashion statement that Kiwi Indians can actually incorporate Maori values and traditions and give Kiwi Indians a unique identity, Parikh said.
Many of the contestants spoke in Maori language during their introductions. “This shows that the youth of New Zealand have opted to take the rich Kiwi cultural values into the next generation.”
Parikh said the focus this year was to have the event more suited for TV audiences, with the help of Stratos Television. The event will be screened on Stratos TV on Saturday, September 12, during prime time.
More than $1000 was raised by the contestants for Multiple Sclerosis (Auckland). Calendars with contestants’ photos were sold and all funds raised waas directly deposited into MS Auckland account by the contestants.
Miss Charity Queen was awarded to Sirath Sodhi, who also was crowned as Miss Beautiful Smile. Sirat alone raised $325 for MS Auckland.
The audience not only enjoyed wide range of cultural items and dazzling catwalks but, also took home a very sensitive message of stopping child abuse. A dance item performed by small children communicated the importance of not ignoring child abuse problem which currently has been exposed nationwide.
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