Sydney, September 29: 23 years old Australian, Sukhmani Khaira was adorned with Miss India Australia 2016 title with a crown and sash.
Sukhmani was selected based on her overall performance at the official auditions and the talent workshops. In addition to English, Sukhmani also speaks Hindi and Punjabi.
Sukhmani as Miss India Australia 2016 will represent Australia in the Miss India Worldwide grand finale in New Jersey, USA on 9 October 2016.
She is entitled to a fully paid 7 days trip to USA and India beginning 3 October 2016 when Sukhmani will officially represent Australia in the worldwide finale competing against 30 countries.
Krithika Arun from Melbourne was adjudged Miss India Australia 2016 – Photogenic and Neha Soudagar, also of Melbourne, won the first ever Mrs India Worldwide Australia 2016 title.
Mrs India Australia 2016 was introduced for “Woman of Purpose”. 28 years old Neha Soudgar who claimed this title was also crowned Miss India Australia 2010 finalist and winner of “Public Choice” CyberQueen title in 2010.
Woman of Purpose is a social enterprise initiative which empowers women through training, workshops on self image, confidence, identity, and gender equality in Australia.
Both Neha Soudagar and Sukhmani Khaira will officially represent Australia in the Mrs and Miss India Worldwide 2016 from 3 – 9 October 2016 in USA.
Sukhmani will network with the worldwide delegates, attend industry events, training and workshops through exciting six days along with the official contestants from other countries.
She will visit Atlantic City, the JFK Hospital in Edison to distribute toys to the children and partake in a dinner cruise in Manhattan.
As Miss India Australia, Sukhmani will contest on the talent night on 6 October and dinner, hosted by TV Asia. Later she will compete at the Finale and reception on 9 October in Royale Albert Palace in New Jersey.
Along with 35 other contestants, Sukhmani will take part in workshops in Dance and Choreography conducted by Sandeep Soparkar and Self Image/Bollywood Workshop by Raj Suri.
Bollywood and TV celebrities confirmed for the night are Meenakshi Shesadri, Zee TV’s Mia Sharma, anchor Manav Gohil, fashion choreographer Sandeep Soparrkar, model trainer Alecia Raut and Creative Director, Deepak Chopra.
Raj Suri is the founder director of Miss Indian Australia Inc. and is also a photographer, media/film producer and Sydney based image and Bollywood consultant. Founded in 2001, Miss India Australia is the first ever-national talent search in Australia for women of Indian origin, affiliated to the Miss India Worldwide which is celebrating its 25th year in 2016 represented by over 30 countries.
Sukhmani is being sponsored and mentored by Raj Suri and will be exclusively represented via Raj Suri associate talent office in Mumbai.
One of the former Miss India Australia is Melbourne’s Pallavi Sharda, Miss India Australia 2010; who is now an accomplished actor in Australia and Bollywood. She is known for ‘Save Your Legs’, Bollywood blockbuster with Ranbir Kapoor, ‘Bessharam’ and 2015 release ‘Hawaizaada’ with Anshuman Khurrana.
2011 winner, Ankita Ghazan has made an appearance role in ‘Heroine’ in 2012 with Kareena Kapoor.
Miss India Australia 2004, Sydney’s Vimala Raman has completed over 42 films as the lead and has just given a box office hit – ‘Oppam’ opposite Malayalam superstar Mohanlal which released in September2016.
Vir Rajendra
images courtesy @missindia.com.au