May Queen Ball

An integral part of the gala May Queen Ball organized each year on April 30 by the managing committee of the Sir Ness Wadia Club of Rustom Baug is the beauty pageant. Shiraz Irani emerged the winner this year, applauded by over 1,200 enthusiastic people in the age group 18-35. Kainaaz Billimoria and Hufriya Balaporia stood second and third respectively, as per a write-up sent to Parsiana by Rustom Jasoomoney, president of the Club. The three winners took home Rs 51,000, Rs 31,000 and Rs 21,000 each, while Miss Photogenic Persis Umrigar, Beautiful Skin Frenaz Balsara, Best Hair Farah Mulla, Best Smile Shiraz Irani, Body Beautiful Natasha Nava and Miss Vivacious Khushnaz Daruwala each received Rs 10,000, all the cash prizes being donated by Shahrukh Kathawalla, according to the write-up. The impressive panel of judges included admen Alex Kuruvilla and Prasoon Pandey, editor of For Him Magazine Farhad Dadybur­jor, ace photographer Vikram Bawa, founder of Parsi Resource Group Jimmy Mistry, theater person Shahzaan Padamsee and Kashmira Irani who acts in the television serial Ambar Dhara. The show was compered by Burzis Taraporevala, choreographed by Hormazd Khambatta and the make-up done by Dilshad Ukaji.

The May Queen Ball has been an annual event of the Club for the last 15 years and event coordinator for the evening, vice president of the Club Hutoxi Doodhwala, with support from president Jasoomoney, co-vice president Homiar Shroff and other committee members puts together a spectacular show year after year. In his address Jasoomoney thanked Nusli Wadia for consistently promoting the Ball and other Club activities through the Sir Ness Wadia Foundation, as also Dhun Gagrat, Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman emeritus Jamshed Guzder and other trustees, and Kathawalla for his handsome cash prizes as well as for co-sponsoring the 10-day grooming program along with the BPP.

Judges (top) and winners at Rustom Baug’s May Queen Ball with Burzis Taraporevala

The grooming program, conducted by Doodhwala and holistic guru Mickey Mehta of 360° Gym, Health Beyond Fitness, included speech, diction and stage presentation training, etiquette, manners and body language, yoga, pilates, aerobics, meditation and pranayam. Ballroom dancing was taught by expert Sandip Soparr­kar, Yazmeen Contractor oversaw training in personal hygiene, hair and skin care, make-up tips were provided by Dolly Tarapore while Hufriya Bhiwandiwala, Miss India finalist 2005, put the 20 May Queen contestants through grueling training sessions on how to walk the ramp. Ace photographer and actor Boman Irani spared a good two hours from his hectic schedule to show the girls not only how to face the camera but how to face different challenges in life. Grasim Mr India 2005, model and actor Viraf Patel boosted their confidence by explaining what it takes to win a pageant. A session in self defence training was conducted by Sensei Hoshi Batliwala and his team.

The Club thanked Sarosh Daruwalla of Mazda Audio Video Lab for managing the sound and lights, Homai Dubash for the mouthwatering dishes prepared, K. K. and Maharukh Edulji for the costumes and all the tenants of Rustom Baug for their wholehearted cooperation in making the event a stupendous success, the write-up concludes.