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Tuesday, 26th February 2008 (5294 views)

Gold and diamond jewellery was reportedly among the prizes handed to Shagun Sarabhim, the winner of the 17th annual Miss India Worldwide pageant in Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to India Interacts, the 20-year-old from Mumbai also received a laptop computer, exclusive clothing and $5,000 (£2,531) in cash.

Runners-up in the contest were the reigning Miss India Canada, Uppeka Jain and 21-year-old Sabiha Hussain of the host country South Africa.

The website reports that Bollywood now beckons for the winner, whose chosen career of homeopathy may now have to take a back seat.

Speaking after the ceremony, Ms Sarabhi said if any offers came from Bollywood, she would accept them, although she "definitely" wanted to try and mix film work with her medical studies.

Indian consul-general Navdeep Suri, who attended the event, said the impact of Bollywood films was clear among the communities among the Indian diaspora.

"But in all countries, even where there is a fusion of the indigenous and Indian culture, [as] some of these young women have shown here today, the essence of their Indian roots remains."

There are estimated to be around 25 million Indian citizens or persons of Indian origin living in countries as diverse as Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates.

 

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