Poonam Gaur was crowned the first-ever Mrs India-Pride of Nation at the pageant’s grand finale held on 23 December at The Leela Ambience, Gurugram. The event organised by Glamour Gurgaon was judged by Punjabi actor Ihana Dhillon, who made her debut in Hate Story 4, and Telugu actor Payal, Ghosh, who was recently seen as the lead in Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi opposite Vir Das.
The grand finale of Mrs India-Pride of Nation 2017 had three rounds where the 61 contestants were seen donning designer ensembles. For the first round, the competing ladies wore outfits from “Shimmer by Shivina Agnani”, followed by chic Indian designs from “Shree The Indian Avatar”. The third round saw the contestants walk down the ramp in “Wedding Bells” bridal couture, while their jewellery throughout the competition was designed by Akassh K Aggarwal of Shubhashini Ornamentals.
In addition to showcasing the beauty and talent of the contestants, the pageant also strived to empower them to be better contributors to the society.
The contestants of the pageant apart from preparing for the finale, also showed active support in helping lesser-blessed women rise in life. In recognition of their responsibility to make a positive difference in the society, all the contestants ventured into slum areas and helped conduct breast cancer check-ups for free. They have successfully completed more than 15000 check-ups till date.
The first edition of Mrs India-Pride of Nation 2017 was kickstarted by city auditions across India. Contestants were screened for their passion to make dreams come true and their eagerness to contribute to the society at large. Only the best of the best from these auditions were given the green flag. The final 61 were then introduced to strenuous training and grooming sessions to help them present their best on stage at the finale. Speaking about the contestants and the challenge they were put to, Barkha Nangia [owner Glamour Gurgaon]says, “This is the first edition of Mrs India-Pride of Nation and we have crowned that one woman who is hungry to make her dreams come true. In our journey to find the very first Mrs India Pride of Nation, we auditioned hundreds of aspirants from Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Punjab and other parts of the country. These are married women, who know how to balance the nuances of life with elegance and charm. Those who showed us the strength of character and a willingness to learn something new to make the best of life were brought forward to the final stage.”
Glamour Gurgaon has organised seven beauty pageants so far, including the recent Mrs Punjab-Pride of Nation and Mrs Delhi-NCR. The eighth event property in their kitty is the grandest of all with multi-city contestants, renowned fashion designers, image consultants and celebrities on the jury panel, and in-depth training, photo shoots and makeup sessions that prepped the finalists for the finale. “As a celebration of womanhood, this is a platform to encourage those who always wanted to do something in life, but were held back due to many reasons. I am one among them and by organising these events, I see myself in these contestants. Our aim is to bring them out of their comfort zones, groom and equip them to present the best version of themselves and connect them to the right opportunities that can make their ambitions soar,” added Nangia.
Mrs India is a step towards acknowledging a married woman’s contribution to her family and society and at the same time keeping herself fit. During the four finale day journey with 61 contestants from 20-23December, the ladies were pampered with beauty, fitness and styling sessions. And at the same time, they were also empowered by imparting knowledge on various health and wellness issues.