The 60th edition of Femina Miss India, which took place at Famous Studios in Mumbai, saw Nikita Porwal crowned as the Femina Miss India 2024. The 18-year-old Nikita hails from Ujjain, the historic city of Madhya Pradesh. She has been crowned by Nandini Gupta, the former Miss India 2023 who hailed from Rajasthan. The first runner-up position was held by Rekha Pandey, hailing from Dadra and Nagar Haveli and represented the Union Territories. The second runner-up was Ayushi Dholakia from Gujarat. She, along with the first and second runners-up, was sashed by actor and beauty queen Neha Dhupia, who had been the winner of the prestigious beauty pageant in 2002.
Her Educational Background
She completed her schooling from Carmel Convent Senior Secondary School, Bhopal. Currently, she is pursuing a Bachelor in Performing Arts with a specialisation in dramatics from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Her academic pursuit is in harmony with her knack for creative pursuits as evident from her choice of career and degree.
Career
Being a successful model, her true passion lies in theatre. She began her career as a TV show host and has acted in over 60 plays. Her interest in theatre has expanded into acting in films. She has already been part of a feature film which has been presented to international audiences in international film festivals. Her portrayal of Maa Sita in the 2022 production of Shri Ramlila has given a significant boost to her acting career. Her creativity also flourishes in other activities like writing and painting. Her writing skills became evident as she authored authored a 250-page play titled “Krishna Leela”. Besides acting in theatre and films, she enjoys reading and watching movies from diverse genres.
Aspiration
Nikita, with her limitless ambition and dedication to be a self-made woman looks up to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as her inspiration. Aishwarya Rai was the first runner-up in the 1994 Miss India pageant, behind Sushmita Sen, who won the tile and later became the Miss Universe in 1994.
While speaking about her Aishwarya, she says, “She embodies the perfect blend of beauty and brains, showcasing a captivating combination of poise, sharp wit and effortless charm”. Her goal in life is clearly defined by her motto in life, which in her words, is, “Be a life that matters, a loss that’s felt”. Having found her true passion in theatre, she expresses her interest in being part of big film projects. The young model and talented artist wants to feature in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film in future.
A fierce lover of animals, she takes it upon herself to advocate for animal rights. She is going to represent India in the Miss World stage in its upcoming edition and aspires to represent the cause she believes in firmly on the world stage.
More about the 60th edition of the Beauty Contest
Shreya Poonja, who held the Femina Miss India 2023 1st Runner-up, crowned her successor, Rekha Pandey, on 16th October 2024, marking the continuation of elegance and legacy. Similarly, the second runner-up of the eminent beauty contest, Ayushi Sholakia, is crowned by the reigning 2nd Runner-Up, Strela Thounaojam Luwang.
Other highlights of the event include Tadu Lunia, Femina Miss India Arunachal Pradesh 2024, who clinched the Times Miss Beauty With a Purpose Award. Along with her fellow contestants, she raised an impressive Rs. 45,30,646 through Ketto aimed at supporting Sanmat. Sanmat is an NGO dedicated to the cause of uplifting tribal women through crucial healthcare, education, and livelihood support services.
This incredible effort on the part of the contestants and organisers highlights the power of community and kindness while emphasising that beauty contests can usher in positive and effective change in reality. Tadu Lunia alone raised Rs. 15,71,109 with the help of her family, friends, community and fans, earning her the title by being the highest individual fundraiser in this initiative.
Angelia Marrwein, who represents Meghalaya, has been awarded the prestigious Times Miss Multimedia Award at the Femina Miss India Meghalaya 2024 pageant. This remarkable achievement, besides highlighting her charisma, also secures her a direct entry into the esteemed top 15 of the national competition.
The competition saw participation from all 29 states and one Union Territory. The selection process for Femina Miss India 2024 included multiple stages, beginning from nationwide auditions to zonal auditions. The auditions were categorised into five zones, namely East, North East, North, South, and West, which held auditions to shortlist finalists. This was followed by a rigorous selection of state finalists who then participated in a boot camp that included training programs, digital content shoots, and personal interview rounds. All these culminated in the final competition consisting of multiple rounds.
The jury members included Anusha Dandekar, the prominent VJ and actress, and former beauty queen Sangeeta Bijlani, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and Anees Bajmee, and choreographer Bosco Martis, among others.
FAQ
Who is Nikita Porwal, and where is she from?
Nikita Porwal is an 18-year-old Indian beauty queen from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. She was crowned Femina Miss India 2024 on 16th October 2024.
What are Nikita Porwal’s interests and passions?
Nikita is passionate about theatre and has acted in over 60 plays. She is also interested in writing and painting and has authored a 250-page play titled “Krishna Leela.” She is also a fierce lover of animals and advocates for animal rights.
What are Nikita Porwal’s future aspirations?
Nikita aspires to be part of big film projects, especially those directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. She also wants to represent India at the Miss World pageant.
What was the Femina Miss India 2024 competition like?
The Femina Miss India 2024 competition involved multiple stages, including nationwide and zonal auditions, a boot camp, and the final competition. The contestants were judged on their beauty, talent, intelligence, and personality.
Who were the other winners and notable contestants in Femina Miss India 2024?
First runner-up: Rekha Pandey from Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Second runner-up: Ayushi Dholakia from Gujarat
Times Miss Beauty With a Purpose Award: Tadu Lunia from Arunachal Pradesh
Times Miss Multimedia Award: Angelia Marrwein from Meghalaya
