The preparations for Mr India World 2008 have kicked off. Organised under the exclusive franchisee agreement with Miss World Limited, Mr India World is a hunt for the man with both brain and the brawn. The contest is in its second year and Bangalore was the chosen destination to reveal the shortlisted candidates selected from across South India.
Thirty-three candidates were chosen from among 300 entries received in the south zone. Boys were judged on the basis of a specific criteria - looks, vital statistics, personality, mental agility and determination.
The mandatory criteria involved in the selection procedure were height, Indian nationality, unmarried status and a portfolio. On the jury were make-up artist Leila Sharma, fashion photographer Manoj Masand and vice president, Automative Brand Solutions Limited (ABSL) Kavita Bagga. Talking about the response to the event this year, Kavita said, “We have received over 1,500 entries this time from across India - twice more than last year. Interestingly, most of the participants are highly educated or already well-placed. In fact, we have received some very good entries, who can do well at the international pageant.”
A pan-India initiative, the pageant was open to both metros and small towns. According to Kavita, the shortlisted candidates will be further filtered once the same procedure is conducted in Mumbai followed by Delhi.
And finally out of 150 shortlisted candidates, only about 20 will compete at the finals to be held in Mumbai on February 11.
The 20 chosen ones will go through a training programme conducted by a panel of experts for overall grooming interspersed with outdoor activities entailing adventure sports and contests among others. Explained Kavita, “The shortlisted boys are absolutely raw. Some of them have come even from the smallest of towns. They may not be colour co-ordinated now. It will take a lot of time to train them.”
Though it’s only the shortlisting procedure that is on now, take a closer look - one of these boys may probably be the face to watch out for at the Mr World 2008, slated to take place in China later this year.
