Joint pageants to showcase Indian culture
Father and daughter team aims to change mindset of society on beauty
KUALA LUMPUR: Yoogan Alagan and his daughter Sharmisttha Yoogan are out to change the mindset of society about beauty – two pageants at a time.
Yoogan is the adviser and organiser of Miss & Mrs India Worldwide Malaysia (MMIWM) and Sharmisttha is its national director.
The joint pageants, which are held for single and married ethnic Indians, respectively, are aimed at showcasing the diversity of the Indian culture and creating better opportunities for women and also promoting Malaysian tourism.
“Beauty pageants are not just about glitz and glamour. It is not about who is the most beautiful, but who can show their real self,” said Sharmisttha, who was crowned Miss India Malaysia 2012.
“Through the pageants, we’re also eager to promote Malaysian tourism and its cultural values,” she said, adding that instead of a swimsuit round, finalists will don traditional wear.
Sharmisttha said she had met with Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who was positive about their movement.
The MMIWM, she said, also contributes to society via the various causes and charities that the contestants are tied up with.
Internationally, the Mrs India Worldwide pageant was introduced last year by the IFC, a New York-based organisation that has been conducting Miss India Worldwide since 1990.
The Malaysia edition of Miss India Worldwide started in 2000.
Sharmisttha and Yoogan got the right to hold the MMIWM for the first time in the country this year. The preliminary rounds and training have been taking place since April.
The grand finals will be in February 2018. It features 14 Miss finalists and 11 Mrs finalists boasting varied ethnicities such as IndianBidayuh, Indian-Caucasian and IndianChinese.
The respective titleholders will go on to join their counterparts from 40 other countries to compete at the Miss India Worldwide and Mrs India Worldwide pageants.
Sharmisttha said both pageants are prestigious platforms in Indian society that may open doors to Bollywood.
“There will be movie directors, actors and other industry players attending the events,” she said.
Yoogan said the MMIWM pageant can show the Malaysian Indian community how it can scale up.
“We want them to be confident and walk tall, even going on to international level.”
He said they needed other Indian organisations to come on board and help them in their cause.
“We also need all Malaysians to support the MMIWM because we’re a team,” he added.