Grace, grit and glory

"Grab only the drink, not the girl,” recommended the evening’s master of ceremonies Burjis Taraporevala when addressing the eager spectators who had assembled at Rustom Baug’s Sir Ness Wadia Memorial Pavilion (SNWMP) on April 30 to witness the crowning of May Queen (MQ) 2014. He invited those with a Rs 1,000 note ending in ‘6’ or a torn sock to come to the dais to receive a free can (of the Monster energy drink)! He and his co-compere Zeenia Wadia regaled the audience for nearly an hour until the judges arrived.

The evening’s star was 23-year-old Arnaz Kolah MQ 2014, who won over the six distinguished judges and also emerged the most popular for the Viewer’s Choice Award (which is cast by a secret ballot by the audience), taking home a neat sum of Rs 60,000, gifts galore, a free one year membership of Mickey Mehta’s 360° Gym, a free stay plus a dinner coupon for two courtesy Vivanta by Taj. A postgraduate in commerce, the bon vivant works with a media company, is a talented cook and believes: "Smile, and happiness will follow.”
"Capital punishment should be there for any crime like rape, murder, etc. Capital punishment is a must. People of India require fear otherwise there will be crimes, there will be rapes, we (women) will be treated like objects,” was Kolah’s winning answer to the question seeking her views on capital punishment and whether it should be abolished and commuted to life imprisonment in India. She further suggested punishments like pelting stones at the accused as they do in the Middle Eastern countries. "Guys, you better watch it and keep your hands to yourselves, or you won’t have any hands left!” warned Taraporevala.
A sum of Rs 30,000 and the first runner-up title was bagged by 18-year-old Delshad Kalantary who is pursuing a degree in science and considers patience and hard work as the keys to success. When asked her views on the Hindi soap operas, the Dance India Dance program and the reality shows she responded, "I am being honest and humble. My friends think it’s a little kiddish that I sit and watch the show, Dance India Dance.” Whilst admiring all the judges of that show she was particularly appreciative of Geeta Kapoor who had come to judge MQ 2014 and described her as "a good role model, she instilled values, guided and nurtured all the people and her team members…”
Another beauty to walk away with three crowns was 17-year-old Benafsha Soonawalla from H. R. College who has won many inter and intra college competitions and has just appeared for her HSC examination. Not only was she the second runner-up winning Rs 20,000, she won two more titles for Best Skin and Best Smile with an additional Rs 20,000. The question posed to Soonawalla was: "Your father and the love of your life —your boyfriend — are trapped in a room which is on fire. You have time only to save one of them. Who will you save and why?” Responded the teenager, "I would definitely, hands down, save my father. He is the most amazing man in the world. From bringing me up to making me the beautiful, confident girl that I am, he is responsible. Plus I don’t have a boyfriend, so it’s a win-win situation for me.”

Contestants with the SNWMP managing committee members

The other sub-title winners each receiving Rs 10,000 were Delzin Irani for Best Hair. An interior designer, the 23-year-old loves modelling and has done many garment shoots and walked the ramp for several designers. Eighteen-year-old Franaita Jijina of H. R. College who is an award winning belly dancer picked up the Body Beautiful and Miss Photogenic titles and is entitled to get a portfolio made by photographer Arish Patel. The contestants selected Penaaz Dastoor as Miss Vivacious. Qualified as a company secretary with an MBA in finance she is a state level footballer, a fitness freak and loves adventure sports, cooking, baking and playing the piano. Zenya Pavri won the title of Most Talented and a cash gift of Rs 5,000. A commerce graduate with a diploma in French the 23-year-old wants to design her own range of saris.
The title prizes were sponsored in memory of late Jimmy Anklesaria, while Viraf Mehta [son of Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman] gave the monies for the Viewers’ Choice and Most Talented awards. Apart from the cash prizes, the winners also got hampers containing gifts courtesy Nestle, Godrej Consumer Products, Aspy Acharia, Byculla Pharmacy and Stores and SNWMP president Homiyar Shroff.
Earlier as the 16 participants of MQ 2014 walked the stage, dressed in shimmering gowns in a riot of colors — blue, red, black, maroon, beige, green — chokers and earrings enhancing their glamor quotient, each of them was introduced in turn by the comperes. The youngest were four belles aged 17, and the eldest, two aged 24. Whilst modelling was a common interest, others showed an interest in becoming a celebrity stylist, learning foreign languages, education, law, starting a shelter for stray dogs, dentistry, sports journalism.

Evening entertainment
"The MQ extravaganza has now snowballed into an annual event of huge popularity… With your support and the generosity of sponsors and benefactors we will continue this glorious tradition,” promised Shroff. He proudly announced another milestone in the history of the SNWMP: May 10, 2014 being the Diamond Jubilee of the Pavilion.
A feast for the eyes as well as the stomach was promised that evening. Many food and drink counters dotted the periphery of the enclosure. Barbeque, shawarma and Persian Durbar counters jostled with counters selling Kingfisher Beer and Monster energy drinks. The sober kind had to make do with iced tea from Nestea.
While Stephanie D’Souza sang Miley Cyrus’ "Wrecking Ball,” two youngsters danced to her tunes. After the contestants made their first round on the dais, the staged filled up again as young fashion designers Nazneen Kanga and Delna Wadia (of the brand NaDel) showcased their outfits. For the show choreographed by Pearl Tirandaz, fashionistas walked the ramp in dazzling ensembles of gold, silver and black.
Next followed a felicitation of the "brilliant array” of judges. Alongside Kapoor the other lady judges were TV star Aashka Goradia and a veteran in the performing arts Karla Singh. The male judges included BPP trustee Jimmy Mistry, with TV actors Nandish Sandhu and Ashish Kapoor.

Bollywood Dance Dhamaka; fashion show;

Zeenia Wadia, Burjis Taraporevala, Homiyar Shroff

Once the eight shortlisted candidates had completed the gruelling round of questions-and-answers, the crowd was entertained with Bollywood Dance Dhamaka, also a Tirandaz choreographed item. Style In Work was next as the BBoying group of Vishtasp Kothavala, Percy Bharucha, Nikav Bharucha, Darayus Dhabar and Yathaash Fulwadiwalla held the audience spellbound by cavorting, flipping, jumping, moving their bodies in a way unbelievable. "Those with osteoporosis or with dentures, please don’t try this!” cautioned Taraporevala in jest.
While D’Souza belted out another number, the 16 beauties came back on stage for the final round.
The sponsors and organizers
The MQ organizers thanked the sponsors: Fashion at Big Bazaar, Central Bank of India, BPP, World Zoroastrian Trust Funds, P. N. Writer and Company, Union Bank of India, Airline Marketing Services Private Limited, Ness Wadia Foundation, Colgate-Palmolive, Byculla Pharmacy and Stores, the Tata Group. Dr Porus Turner offered free dental check-ups for all the participants which includes cleaning and whitening their teeth. Mistry’s adventure park in Lonavala hosted a fun trip for the participants.
MQ’s print media partner was Parsi Times, hair and make-up partner Kut N Make Salon, fun and recreation partner Della Tecnica, health and fitness partner Mickey Mehta’s 360° Gym, online media partner India-Forums. The entire evening was co-ordinated by SC (Shahaan Chessan) Talent, choreographed by Tirandaz and Yazad Karai of Nyumark Entertainment was in charge of design and technicalities.
The MQ extravaganza could not have come to fruition but for the dedicated and efficient help of the members of the SNWMP’s managing committee. Assisting Shroff were vice presidents Anosh Munshi and Cyrus Doomasia, secretaries Khushro Contractor and Tirandaz, treasurer Yezdin Mistry, sports and entertainment secretary, Karai, and gym secretary Neville Chitiwalla. A big round of applause was offered to the woman behind the scene, Anahita Desai, "who quietly goes about doing her work.”