New Haven, CT: Diva America is hosting the third Miss India Connecticut Pageant with the theme —Unity in Diversity — at the Shubert Theater here on September 9. The pageant is supported by Gujarati Association of Connecticut. The organizers are expecting a sold-out event with 1,400 people attending the show.
AmeriCares, a non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, has joined as a partner organization. The winner will have the opportunity to travel on a chartered flight to Guatemala on September 29, as part of AmeriCares Airlift Benefit. The winner will get a first-hand look at AmeriCares aid programs in Guatemala by visiting hospitals, clinics and social service agencies the Stamford-based charity supports. AmeriCares president and CEO Curt Welling will serve as one of the judges at the pageant.
Miss India Connecticut is not only a beauty pageant but also a movement to bring a greater assimilation of Indian Americans with local American community. “We believe that respecting other cultures, respecting other religions and getting respected for our own is the way to live in peace and harmony. Keeping that as a motto, the pageant’s theme this year has been set as Unity in Diversity,” said Diva America president Anita Bhat.
Miss India Connecticut is also the first beauty pageant to introduce BMI (Body Mass Index) as one of the selection criteria for the contestants.
“We believe that fashion industry influences our next generation in their attitude towards health and fitness. To target the fashion industry, we have introduced BMI and we hope that by bringing this awareness, we could help reduce obesity, anorexia, bulimia, low self-esteem and depression amongst the next generation. If we succeed in bringing about this change in other beauty pageants, it will be historical,” Bhat commented.
Miss India Connecticut Pageant has been endorsed by CAPI (Connecticut Associa-tion of Physicians of Indian Origin), AAPI (American Association of Physician of Indian Origin) and GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) Youth Council.
The pageant will be a spectacular show with Indian classical, Bollywood, and folk music and dances to showcase magical India. Indian master chef Prasad Chirnomula, the culinary visionary and the owner of Thali & Oaxaca Kitchen, will be sponsoring the cocktail reception. AmeriCares and Kick for Nick Foundation are the two charities supported by Miss India CT Pageant.
For more information, participation, tickets and to sponsor, visit Diva Web site: www.missindiact.org. Tickets can also bought directly from Shubert Theatre. Information can also be had by calling at 203-524-2935 or e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
