ABU DHABI // Winning a beauty pageant is as much about hard work as it is natural good looks.
Just ask the contestants of Miss India UAE, which is taking place in Abu Dhabi. on Saturday.
Over the past six days they have been undergoing an intensive training programme to transform them into a potential pageant champion.
The 16 contestants, all of whom are Indian residents in the UAE, were selected from 45 candidates.
The winner will represent the UAE at the Miss India Worldwide pageant in September in Mumbai.
To qualify, the women had to be between 18 and 25 years old, single, childless and possess talent and beauty.
“We asked them a couple of questions about their personality, what they do, their talent and to see if they blend well with the other girls,” said Eisha Ramrakhiani, a spokeswoman for the Miss India UAE competition.
“We check their walk. We check how much we need to groom them, because we have a six-day grooming programme.”
As the contestants are learning this week, it takes a lot more than good looks to win the contest, according to Ms Ramrakhiani.
“They have training every day,” she said, noting that the beauty drills could last between six and 12 hours a day.
Dance rehearsals, hair and style makeovers, public speaking lessons, media interviews and catwalk skills are all part of the process. Pageant organisers have even flown in beauty experts from India to help refine the contestants.
This week, the contestants took over a salon for a day for cosmetic treatments.
“There was a lot of hair colouring and enhancing their natural skin colour, just to make sure which hair colour makes their face pop or eye colour pop,” Ms Ramrakhiani said. “Each girl had a different makeover plan, depending on the styling.”
Then there was practising the catwalk.
Nivetha Pethuraj, a 23-year-old contestant from Dubai, said the training was among the most challenging experiences she had undergone.
“I actually have never done this much work in my life,” the university graduate said. “I do work hard, but this is crazy hard work. This drives us because we have our dance practice and then our walk practice. Yesterday, we had a Zumba session. It’s just different, I love it. It’s absolutely amazing.”
Sanna Monga, 22, who was crowned Miss India UAE last year, said she had fond memories of her pageant training.
“It’s an experience going through the training and getting involved with the best trainers you have – from dance, to make up, to choreography, everything. It’s a complete package,” she said. “You go in as a girl and you come out as a lady.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
