By IANS
New Delhi : Auditions for the Miss India beauty pageant began here with a group of 37 aspirants sashaying down the ramp.
The regional (north zone) audition was held Wednesday to select contestants vying for the upcoming edition of Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2008 beauty pageant, scheduled for April 5.
The results of the audition would be declared after the south zone audition to be held in Mumbai March 5. Up to 45 contestants will be short listed in this round.
In the final stage, the number will be reduced to about 25. Experts will then groom them for 21 days. Finally, three contestants will be crowned the Miss India World, Miss India Universe and Miss India Earth.
“We are looking for girls who symbolise the independent, contemporary Indian woman,” Hemant Trevedi, official choreographer and contestant director for Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2008, told IANS.
“She should not only have physical attributes of an attractive face and toned body but also the intellect and confidence to match it,” added Trevedi, who was one of the judges.
The others on the panel of judges were Amruta Patki, Miss India Earth 2006 and Miss Earth-Air 2006 and Sameer Soni, national director of Femina Miss India.
Soni said: “The task of going through thousands of entries and short listing candidates is not easy. I am optimistic that this contest will unearth great potential and talent that will make our country proud.”
Last year, Sarah Jane was crowned Miss India World, Puja Gupte Miss India Universe and Pooja Chitagopikar Miss India Earth.