One contest, 29 contestants, 30 days of training... Usha Mani reports from the grooming camp


Aarti
One day, towards the end of the training, the stress got so much for Aarti (right) that she simply fainted. But, no weakling, she! She quickly regained her verve and participated in the rest of the sessions with full gusto. The Art of Living course helped, she said.

Carole
You could not miss the distinctive American accent, but Carole (left) said she is very much an Indian, a Mumbai-ite, at heart, though she has spent many years abroad. Her favourite 'firang' memory? Playing 'holi' with baby powder!


Chesz
Don't call her 'Shez'; Chesz hates that! It's to be pronounced 'chess' after which she was named, she informs you. Chesz turned 22 during the training period, and celebrated with a low-cal caramel cake...


Deepal
She was the baby of the gang, and yet, everyone turned to good ole Deepal for advice!

She, of course, lapped up all the pampering and affection.

Donna
A thorough professional on the ramp, Donna was all confidence when she spoke.

Entry into the contest was a birthday gift from the organisers to her, she said. She got The Call on her 21st birthday.

Ekta
She was the nervous one, but hid it well... thanks again to the Art of Living course.

So when she walked on to centrestage to receive the Bajaj Almond Drops Most Beautiful Hair award, she was a study in poise and confidence.

Jyoti Brahmin
Jyoti said she loved Sabira Merchant's coaching the most because that's where she learnt that being tall or looking beautiful wasn't the formula to make an impact on others; it was all about being a good human being from within.

Jyoti Jha
The ever-smiling Jyoti Jha said she would always be grateful to their Art of Living instructor, Rhea Pillai Dutt, for teaching her to be completely in control of herself, calm and focussed at all times.


Himani
Quiet? Brooding? Nope! Himani was just absorbing each moment to cherish later.

And she sure had more moments than most, since she made it to the semi finals! This one, she's certainly going to cherish.

Kanika
Femina Miss Congeniality, Kanika, was, for some reason, pretty sure the judges would ask her to do an 'item' number. (They did not!) Nineteen, carefree and very likeable, she was oblivious to her surroundings, except when struggling to master walking the ramp!


Romil
One look at her and you knew Romil was the 'sporty' kind. A complete outdoors person, what was this tall, lanky journalist doing in a beauty pageant? Sharing another facet of her personality, of course!


Rupalee
At little corners, behind tables and between sofas, Rupalee would try and catch up on her beauty sleep, as D-Day approached! But when awake, she made her presence felt with her smiles and witticisms.


Radhika
Radhika's USP was her stunning voice and sparkling eyes. Sure enough, she won the 'Miss Radio Mirchi' award.



Sarayu
Saryu (not Sarayu, please!) said she was so overcome at the first Art of Living session that she broke down... it was such a release from the tension and stress. She (second from right) was also the one who spent every spare minute reading the newspaper.

Sahiba
Sahiba's greatest challenge at the contest? Adjusting to the diet food! At the end of it all, though, she's bound to agree that the gain has been all hers!



Sharmilee
Sharmilee (extreme right) always hated the fact that she was over-sensitive.

Well, the rigorous training certainly took care of that! And she said she was happy for it.


Shruthakeerty
Shruthakeerty's most vivid memory? The moment when Radhika's soya cream strawberry birthday cake was cut, and all 29 of them pounced on it and devoured it!


Sayali
The smile grew wider on Sayali's face as Milind Soman talked to the group about his experiences as a supermodel. She found his real-life stories so similar to hers. Now this is what we might call following your role model!


Shivalika
Always one to animatedly discuss the happenings of the day with everybody, Shivalika was just so happy to have made lots of friends.

Sunaina
By the end of the training, Sunaina had learnt to throw her voice so effectively, courtesy Sabira Merchant, that she could be heard clearly across a huge hall.



Simran
The training did many things for Simran, she admitted. She's now more tuned in to world affairs, beauty, sports, science, etc. She has also learnt a lot about life, she said, and that's what matters! We agree!


Tanushree
When she developed rashes just a few days before D-Day, people told her that it might be chicken pox. She was devastated. But Providence clearly had better plans — the doc declared that nothing was amiss. So did the judges!

Vanessa
A gentle Goan girl, she started out feeling pretty unnerved by the idea of talking to an audience of 28 girls. On the final day though, she did her training - and herself - proud by speaking confidently before a huge audience.