Poised to take off

Confident Steps

“I am delighted with this particular crop of young ladies,” said Prasad Bidapa who was instrumental in making the final selection. “We were very clear that we wanted girls who could step on the ramp and compete in the pageant finals tomorrow even if necessary. We did not want girls who had to be groomed and trained from scratch.These contestants have the look, the poise and confidence to come away with the crown,” he added.

The eight finalists, all dressed in white tops and blue jeans, with their individual touches and accessories strutted their stuff, twirled smiled and posed for the shutterbugs masking their nervousness with smiles and tosses of their teased and blow-dried manes.

Anxiously, they buzzed around the style guru himself asking for tips to improve their chances and make it to  the finals. “Well, you need to be very disciplined for the next few weeks. Watch whatever you eat and drink very carefully. Also get plenty of sleep as that helps to keep your metabolism in top form. Sleep-deprived girls tend to put on weight in al the wrong places,” he advised. One by one, the girls walked down a short walkway as their names were announced before being sashed and congratulated by Prasad.

Nicole Faria, the Bangalore-based model now relocated to Delhi, showed off her best side to the cameras with just the right amount of perky coyness. She was all poise and confidence having benefited from her big brand exposure in the Capital. Amrita Das Gupta, Alpita Sudarshan, Arfia Sheik, Hema Sudarshan, Kritika Lakshmi, Ritika  Goel, Kaveriamma, Aransa and Nicole Faria were the eight finalists.

“Bangalore girls have a reputation for doing well and those who make it in Hyderabad will automatically be in the top ten of the finals,” said Prasad.