Date:22/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112259980400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Auditions for beauty pageant begin

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: Eight of the over 20 girls who pitted their beauty, talent and wit were shortlisted in the first round of auditions for the Pantaloons Femina Miss India South 2009 conducted here on Friday.

Femina Miss India World 2005 Sindhura Gadde lent an expert hand, assessing each of those selected. Of the eight contestants, four were again shortlisted to move to the next round. The four girls -- Tanaya Sanjeev, Sipika Ramesh, Zara Shah and Sadhna Singh will compete in the elimination round to be held here again, on December 9. The elimination round will be followed by the Pantaloons Femina Miss India South Grand Finale which will be held on December 27.

The winner of this pageant stands to get a direct entry into the top ten finalists of the Miss India 2009 national pageant scheduled to take place on April 11, 2009. “I always wanted to take part in this event and am feeling great that I could make it to the next level. I feel more confident now,” says an ecstatic Zara Shah, who is all set to pursue her Bachelor’s in Business Administration.