May Queen Ball

Arnavaz Kollah wore the coveted May Queen 2009 crown at the glittering May Queen Ball organized by the Sir Ness Wadia Club (SNWC) of Rustom Baug which has been putting up this event since 1993. What started as a fund raising activity for the colony has evolved into the most popular and keenly awaited annual celebration with about 1,200 Zoroastrians enjoying a fun filled evening on the imposing lawns of Rustom Baug on May 1, 2009, reveals a write-up sent to Parsiana by Rustom Jasoomoney, SNWC president.

At the beauty pageant, in which 22 young Zoroastrian girls put their best foot forward, the May Queen was awarded Rs 51,000, first runner up Nancy Sutaria took home Rs 31,000 and second runner up Rhea Baliwala received Rs 20,000. Winners of the sub-titles, Khushneen Todiwala (Miss Photogenic), Sharlene Khosravi (Best Hair), Mahtab Nalladaroo (Best Smile), Sanaya Ardeshir (Body Beautiful) and Fian Bamji (Miss Vivacious) won Rs 10,000 each, all the prize money being donated by Justice Shahrukh Kathawalla and family, the e-mail stated.

Since the past four years a 10-day grooming workshop is being held for the participants, sponsored by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) as part of its youth activities. During these 10 days the girls undergo training in physical fitness, mind potential development, spiritual empowerment, yoga, nutrition and dietetics, posture and body language, etiquette and manners, speech, diction and stage presentation, ballroom dancing and dance floor etiquette, ramp walking, make-up and hairstyling, camera awareness and self-defence. A photo shoot is also organized for each participant. This year two new modules, "Rights and Duties of the Indian Woman” and "Voice Modulation” were introduced, the write-up states.

Top (from left): Parizad Kolah Marshall, Arnavaz Kollah, Dinshaw Mehta and Hutoxi Doodhwala, (center) Burzis Taraporevala, Sanaya Ardeshir, Khushneen Todiwala, Nancy Sutaria, Hutoxi Doodhwala, Arnavaz Kollah, Rustom Jassomoney, Rhea Baliwala, Fian Bamji, Yazmeen Contractor, Mahtab Nalladaroo, Sharlene Khosravi; (Below): Boman Irani (left) and Mickey Mehta and conducting sessions for contestants

Training at the workshops was conducted by leading professionals in different fields. Fitness guru Mickey Mehta, ace photographer and actor Boman Irani, ballroom dancer Sandip Soparrkar, VJ and TV anchor Parizad Kolah Marshall, Grasim Mr India 2005 and model Viraf Patel, Miss India finalist 2005 Hufriya, Sensei Hoshi Batliwala, lawyer Hormuz Mehta, hair stylists Yasmin Kadodwala and Yazmeen Contractor, voice-over artist Chetan M, dermatologist Dr Ram Malkani (also known as Dr Skin) and Hutoxi Doodhwala formed the elite panel that mentored the girls. A nutritious diet was worked out by a dietician and executed by Hooma Billimoria who took pains to make the ordinary fare exotic, a fact which was greatly appreciated.

The evening of glitz and glamor, fashion and flair began with the first round of the contest when the 22 participants stepped onto the stage. Two budding fashion designers were given a platform to showcase their talent. Sonya Vajifdar’s creations enhanced the beauty of the contestants while Naomi Dotiwala enthralled the crowd with costumes depicting the architecture of Dubai. While marks were being totaled for the top nine finalists, youngsters from Rustom Baug sashayed down the ramp displaying Dotiwala’s creations, followed by an item of retro English numbers. During the second round, each of the finalists was asked a question prepared by Burzis Taraporevala, compere for the evening along with co-host Contractor. While the final results were being calculated 22 youngsters from the colony enthralled the audience with dance performances. For this, the efforts of Pashyn Sethna, Zeenia Tafty, Farah Dastoor and Sharmin Doomasia need special mention. Choreographer Hormazd Khambatta has always cooperated with the SNWC, enhancing the entertainment value of the evening, the e-mail appreciates his contribution.

Jasoomoney told all present that he was thankful to Nusli Wadia for promoting the May Queen Ball and other activities for many years through the Sir Ness Wadia Foundation, ably assisted by Dhun Gagrat. Jasoomoney also thanked the BPP’s chairman emeritus Jamshed Guzder, BPP trustees Dinshaw Mehta, Jimmy Mistry, Yazdi Desai, Arnavaz Mistry, Armaity Tirandaz, Khojeste Mistree and Noshir Dadrawala as well as Dinshaw Tamboly of World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust Funds, Dadi Engineer and Burjor Antia for their support in all activities of the Club. He expressed special praise for all the co-sponsors — Sir Ness Wadia Foundation, Writer Corporation, Zarir Bhathena of Hilla Builders, Della Tecnica, the House of Tatas and the House of Godrej — who have been supporting the event.

Homiyar Shroff who arranged the dining etiquette workshop for the contestants and behind-the-scenes volunteers Xerrxes Doodhwala, Aashdin Billimoria, Adi Irani, along with the SNWC managing committee worked hard to make the evening a success, the write-up states. Also appreciated were Yazad Karai and his Nyumark Entertainment for managing the spectacular sets, sound and lights, music, LCD projection, video and photography, Homai Dubash for the mouthwatering dishes, Maharukh Edulji for the costumes and all tenants of Rustom Baug for their cooperation, the e-mail concludes.