The Colours Of Friendship - Part 2

Miss Indian International 2012 - 2nd Batch

These were equally nervous, as were the first batch on 14 Dec 2011. Who would not be? It's not like they do this every week. For most it was a first. For Shalini Rajendran it was a different country altogether. The plan is for our international delegates to arrive in April 2102, to commence their training, preparation and rehearsals. However, Shalini Rajendran, a Malaysian, decided to be at the photo shoot with the second batch. Accompanied by her mother, she flew down and, to our delight, arrived promptly to join her peers.  A pageant orientation was arranged for all on 14 Jan 2012, three days after the second batch photo shoot, Shalini, decided to stay to meet the first batch. It was a treat indeed!!

Besides Shalini Rajendran, we also have Nikita Sachdev, an American by nationality, who has been living and studying in Singapore for two years. She was attracted by the fact that this pageant was opened to ladies of Indian Origin, regardless of their nationality or country of residence. For us it was a challenge trying to get the right structure together to accommodate all local and international entrants. There were all kinds of concerns raised but we managed to cleverly devise a system to accommodate all their request. Soon more will join the journey. Little does someone like Shalini Rajendran, the adventurous one, realise that she is one of the very few who has flown out of her country to participate in an international pageant without winning any title in her country first, or is a resident in, or nationality of, the country she is arriving at to participate. Maybe, just maybe, she is the first person or first Indian to be able to do that. Certainly food for thought, that!!

Once eveyone had gathered, and after a short briefing by Sashi Maala, they were hustled towards Ms Sarah Chaudhry, the official make-up artist, and her team for the traditional makeover. After the make-over, these ladies gazed at each other, feeling for a moment as though they had undergone some form of non-invasive surgery. They could not believe it. We captured those moment. It was exquisite, to say the least. Credit must be given to the eloquent touches of Sarah and her team.

In this batch, apart from the two foreign contestants, the one person who deserves a mention is Durga Devi. Now, here is a woman who epitomizes guts and courage. When she first registered, by her own admission, she thought she would never stand a chance of being shortlisted. Encouraged by her sister, who is also an entrant, she decided to make an attempt. The "come what may" spirit. Just they way we like it. Bold and beautiful. Durga is plus size. Slightly heavier in weight but equally heavy in determination and confidence. Her boldness and promise to give it all it takes, convinced the judges. Sashi Maala believed in her. That's all that mattered. She was selected. The rest, as they say, is history. Durga has already accomplished. One does not have to be great to start, but certainly start to be great. In our view, she has started and that in itself is greatness. Well Done Durga!!! She may not be "pageant material", as some would say, but everyone needs her spirit, to reach greater heights. That is the material everyone should posses, not just pageant contestants. And this pageant is about just that. The spirit in the woman. Hence, "Beauty Is In The Difference" and she is indifferent to difference.

With the makeover done, the ladies dolled up, the photo shoot at the Singapore Flyer and F1 Pitstop started. This time the weather was kind. Several locations were selected and the shutter bugs, Billy and Julian, got to work. After much tips on poise and pose from Sashi Maala and pageant trainer, Jaishree Manuferan, the shots were captured. The one thing, again, we could not miss in every shot taken was the smile is each of these lovely contestants. Hence, the title "More Smiles".

Thank You

The Organising Committee.