Chicago girl wins Miss India worldwide 2009

M Subramoney

Durban, Feb 15 (PTI) A 19-year-old Indian-origin student
of drama from the United States beat 24 contestants from all
over the world to clinch the 18th Miss India Worldwide crown
at a glittering event here.

Nikkitasha Marhawa, the Indian-American from Chicago, who
floored the audience with her classical Indian dance fusion,
won the contest held here Saturday night, beating contestants
from as far afield as Guyana, Fiji and South Africa.

Her version of the dance fusion blew away the judges and
captured the hearts of the audience, part of whom gave her a
standing ovation for her fast paced, precise and slick
movement to music.

Stunned by her success, Marhawa said that she was
delighted that the victory will give her a platform to work in
communities which were disadvantaged around the world.

"It was a fascinating experience which earned me many
friends and has made me even more committed to the cause of
Indian people and the greater human kind," she said.

The second place was clinched by Australia's Kanchan
Verma, who also danced a spectacular sequence which kept the
audience spellbound and enraptured.

"We are all winners. I enjoyed this event very much and
over the last week, I met and made many friends," said Verma.

Second runner-up Sunaina Bhoendie of the Netherlands, who
caused a sensation with her performance of Bollywood dances,
said she had great support from the people of Netherlands and
more than 20 of them travelled to South Africa for the
pageant.

There were also shocks at the contest as the candidate
from India, Deepthi Varughese, and that from South Africa,
Kasrivia Nagesar, failed to make it to the top of competition.

Chairman and founder of the Miss India Woldwide Pageant,
Darmathma Saran of New York said that the pageant was a
unifying factor for Indians living in 200 countries around the
world.

He said that visitors from even non-participating
countries travelled to Durban for the event.

Last year's winner, Shugan Sarabhai, from Mumbai crowned
this year's winning trio in a glittering ceremony. PTI SB
PMR
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