The Queen of May

For her answer that she is ready to marry any "kaano (cockeyed), lullo-langro (lame) person but a Parsi” earned May Queen Ball 2011 beauty contestant Delna Bhathena an additional Rs 20,000 purse from Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Dinshaw Mehta who was overly impressed by her reply to the question who she would marry. An out-of-turn house was also reportedly promised to Bhathena, winner of Miss Best Smile, if "my board approves.”

Another query posed to a contestant was "Who would you like to date if you had to choose one from amongst the following three gentlemen — Dinshaw Mehta, Khojeste Mistree or Jimmy Mistry?” The answer: "Well, all three are happily married so what’s the point in dating them! But if I had to pick one, I’d choose Khojeste Mistree. I would love to learn more about our religion and I believe he is the number one expert when it comes to our religion…” made Jenai Kavarana clinch the coveted crown at the beauty pageant held on the lawns of Rustom Baug on April 30, 2011. Anahita Dotivala was adjudged the first runner-up and Tia Framroze, second runner-up. Kavarana was also declared Miss Photogenic. The other four to win the sub-titles were Karishma Palsetia: Best Hair, Sanober Vaid: Best Skin, Khushnu­ma Daruvala: Body Beautiful and Cherizeh Ghadiali: Miss Vivacious, notes a write-up sent by Hutoxi Doodh­wala of Rustom Baug’s Sir Ness Wadia Memorial Pavilion (SNWMP) which has been organizing the event since 1993.

Participating in the competition were 23 lovelies from Bombay, Dubai, Goa, Vapi, Navsari and Surat. The May Queen received Rs 51,000 by way of prize money, the runners-up Rs 31,000 and Rs 20,000 each. The winners of the sub-titles got Rs 10,000 each, all the prize money having been donated by the Kathawallas. Among the luminaries present were Justice Shahrukh Katha­walla, social worker Mahrukh Noble, Mehta, BPP trustees Jimmy Mistry, Yazdi Desai, Arnavaz Mistry, Armaity Tirandaz and Khojeste Mistree and former trustee Dadi Engineer.

Winners all: Khushnuma Daruvala, Cherizeh Ghadiali, Anahita Dotivala, May Queen 2011 Jenai Kavarana, Tia Framroze, Delna Bhathena, Karishma Palsetia and Sanober Vaid

Held as a prelude to the contest was the 10-day grooming workshop where participants were trained in physical fitness and self-defence, mind potential development, spiritual empowerment, yoga, nutrition and dietetics, body posture and language, etiquette and manners, speech, voice modulation, diction and stage presentation, ballroom dancing and dance floor etiquette, ramp walking, make-up and hairstyling, camera awareness and the rights and duties of the Indian woman. Each participant was provided a photo shoot. The BPP has been sponsoring this grooming program as part of their youth activity for the past six years, the write-up notes. It is a valuable learning experience for youngsters.

During the 10 days various programs were conducted by the best professionals in the field. Fitness guru Mickey Mehta, photographer and actor Boman Irani, dance expert Sandip Soparrkar, television personality Parizad Kolah Marshall, Grasim Mr India 2005 Viraf Patel, Miss India finalist Hufriya Bhiwandiwalla, sensei Hoshi Batliwala, lawyer Hormuz Mehta, hairstylist Yazmeen Contractor, photographer Arish Patel, voice over artist Chetan M, dermatologist Dr Behroze Deputy, make-up artiste Mehra Kolah, Jam-e-Jamshed editor Shernaaz Engineer and Doodh­wala were on the panel mentoring the participants. Thrown in was a day trip to Della Adventure in Lonavala courtesy Jimmy Mistry. A nutritious diet worked out by a dietician was executed by Hooma Billimoria who took pains to make the ordinary fare exotic. A hair style makeover was done for some by Farah Irani.

As the first round of the contest began that evening with contestants stepping onto the stage, judges Jatin Kampani, photographer, Narendra Kumar, fashion designer, Freddy Daruvala, Mr India runner-up 2007 and Nauheed Cyrusi, model and actor were all attention, awarding points to select 12 finalists. While the marks were being totaled up, Parsi models sashayed down the ramp displaying the Bridal Collection of budding fashion designer Natasha Sethna who was given a platform to showcase her talent. The sequence was choreographed by Bhiwandiwalla and Kerzina Madon with make-up by Mahtab Jamasji, Kshipra Goiporia and their team.

In the second round the judges asked the finalists questions. Burzis Tara­porevala, compere and co-host with Contractor conducted the proceedings with aplomb, as per the write-up. Requesting to speak at the end for two minutes was contestant no 13, Dinaz Driver. Calling Doodhwala the "perennial May Queen,” Driver personally thanked all involved with the glitzy evening, saying that "each participant was a winner today… (referring to the first time ‘gift’ of Rs 3,000 given to each lovely lady courtesy Justice Kathawalla) because it took a lot of guts and courage to stand before you wonderful people.”

While the judges were busy arriving at the final results, 21 young Rustom Baug residents enthralled the 1,200 strong gathering with dance performances and remake versions of songs. The write-up makes special mention of the efforts of Pashyn Sethna, Zeenia Tafty, Zeenia Wadia and Farah Dastoor. Hormuzd Khambata choreographed the dances.

Rustom Jasoomoney, president of the SNWMP expressed gratitude to industrialist Nusli Wadia for promoting the May Queen Ball and other events for many years through the Sir Ness Wadia Foundation, ably assisted by Dhun Gagrat. Co-sponsors AFL, Dinshaw Tamboly of WZO Trust Funds, Della Tecnica, Hilla Builders, Burjor Antia, Dadi Engineer, Colgate, P. N. Writer and Company, the House of Tatas and Croma who have been supporting the event were acknowledged.

Also thanked were behind the scenes volunteers Xerrxes Doodhwala, Aashdin Billimoria, Farhad Cooper, Hoshang and Jehan Icchaporia along with the managing committee of the SNWMP. The organizing committee of ZYNG (Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation) has been helping with the event since the past two years, notes the write-up. Roxana and Miki Buhariwala created the spectacular sets; Hanosh Dubash, popularly known as DJ Osh, managed the sound, lights, music, LCD projection, video and photography for the evening; Homai Dubash provided mouthwatering dishes; Maharukh Edulji was responsible for the costumes. The cooperation of the tenants of Rustom Baug was appreciated for contributing to the success of the evening’s entertainment. (Additional inputs by Roxan A. Driver)