Valentine's Day was very special for American communications student Nikkitasha Marwaha when over 2,000 people cheered as an international panel of judges named her Miss India Worldwide 2009 at a glittering pageant held yesterday in Durban, South Africa.
First runner-up was Miss India Australia, Kanchan Verma, 23, a student in sleep research. Second runner-up was Miss India Netherlands, Sunaina Bhoendie, a 20-year-old business management student.
"It's a surreal feeling, which just shows that if one perseveres, anyone can achieve what they want if they go for it with a passion," 19-year-old Marwaha said after she beat 24 other entrants from every corner of the globe at the 18th annual edition of the international pageant.
The new Miss India Worldwide 2011 is Miss Australia Ankita Ghazan, 19, from Sydney. She was elected last night in Abu Dhabi, during the gala 20th anniversary of the contest. First runner-up was Miss USA Natasha Arora, from Texas. Second runner-up was Miss Trinidad and Tobago Anuradha Devika Maharaj. Rounding out the top five were Miss UAE Farzana Parveen and Miss South Africa Bonnita Sampath. 26 women of Indian heritage from around the world competed for the coveted title.
