Indian beauties have a ball in Galle
Smiling for the camera in their summer dresses and sun hats, the beautiful contestants of Femina Miss India 2014 toured Galle as part of their week-long stay in Sri Lanka.
Walking along the ramparts of the Fort, taking in the historical beauty and clicking away at the scenic views, Charmaine Sequera, the young Hotel Management graduate representing Mumbai was highly taken up. “It was a really good photo opportunity,” she said, surprised at just how windy it was. “Let’s just say there were a lot of Marilyn Monroe moments.”
Speaking of the stresses of the competition Amarjot Kaur from Chandigarh disclosed the rigorous sessions of training the contestants are put through. “We have fitness sessions, grooming sessions and ramp walk training.” Expecting the competition to toughen once they return to Mumbai, this Software engineer who has walked the ramp for the past two and a half years says, “All the girls are 
beautiful, talented and smart.” With a childhood dream of being a beauty queen fuelling her ambition, but only acting on it after completing her degree, she says, “You have to have confidence to survive in the competition.”
Not forgetting the pressure the girls put on themselves to do better, 24-year-old Sahithya Jagannathan from Chennai observes “the only pressure I feel comes from me.” Always wanting to up her performance and outdo herself at the next opportunity this young journalist hopes to “make India safer for women” and has already taken a 
series of martial arts workshops to colleges across Chennai. Having modelled for the past five years she believes her varied interests and “background in the media industry” will give her what it takes to handle the responsibilities that come with the crown, should she win.
This was the first time in the contest’s 50 years the contestants for the Femina Miss India pageant have been flown overseas. Playing host is the John Keells Group’s Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts who have given the girls right royal treatment. “This is so relaxing that it feels like a holiday,” smiles the contestant from Assam, Jandee Hazarika. Impressed by the quaint beauty of the Fort city, the 20-year-old is awed that despite the devastation of the Tsunami, the fort was unharmed.
Sri Lanka being the pageant’s first foreign destination is also the backdrop of the bikini shoot for this year’s show. “The tough part of the competition is waiting for us back in Mumbai,” says Jandee.
The girls take to the ramp at the Cinnamon Grand for a fashion show this evening before flying back to Mumbai.
 |
 Amarjot Kaur |
 Jandee Hazarika |
 Charmaine Sequera |
 Sahithya Jagannathan |
|