“Charm and elegance”
Titled Panache Miss and Mr India, the competition raised funds through online platform Milaap and Ushta-Te Foundation to provide oxygen concentrators to the Victoria Jubilee Hospital. No participation fees or training fees were charged to the contestants, she noted, while "more than three lakh rupees” have been given as prize money and scholarships. As stated the founder, the initiative was undertaken to "glorify the charm, elegance, intellect and humility of Indian men and women.”
Launched on April 30, the contest "saw more than 5,000 contestants” register from all over the country for auditions. The shortlisted 240 semi-finalists received "an intensive seven-day training” in grooming, makeup and styling, health, nutrition, fitness, and how to pose before a camera, noted Avari. Whittled down to 80 pre-finalists and later to 40 top contenders, the finale was streamed live on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram on June 6, she stated.
Yana Avari (l) and Rajiv Khatri winners at Panache Academy’s beauty pageant
Yana Avari (Khushnum’s daughter) carried away the Panache Miss India 2021 title while Madhya Pradesh’s Rajiv Khatri was awarded the Panache Mr India title. Bihar’s Hiya Mahabi and Mukul Sharma of Rajasthan were first runners up. Tanya Garg of Karnataka and Siddharth Shil (Gujarat) were second runners up. "A total of 30 other winners were also announced for excelling in different segments of the pageant,” stated Khushnum.
Judges included winner of Mrs India Worldwide, South, Khushboo Sewak, cricketers Parthiv Patel and Tanmay Shrivastava, social media influencer Arushi Chawla, Miss India-UN ambassador Shyna Sunsara and Air India commander Capt Anita Moos. In a departure from the traditional crowning of winners by the judges, "winners were crowned by their own family” a few days after the finale, which event was also streamed. The participants have "evolved,” and made their mark through this journey, signed off Khushnum.
On June 30, Khushnum was listed with about 30 other "leading women in business” on www.femina.in. A series of virtual events consisting of roundtable discussions and fireside chats was planned from July 2021, she informed us. Khushnum is a treasurer in the Ushta-Te Foundation. F. J.
Vaccination in Twin Cities
Around 90 Parsis of Hyderabad and Secunderabad were vaccinated on June 16 and 19, 2021 at events organized by the Chinoy family and the combined Hyderabad Agiary (Bai Manekbai Nusserwanji Chenoy Trust) and the Viccajee Meherji Agiary (old Parsi Fire Temple Trust) trustees.
"The vaccination drive was organized for the sake of the Zoroastrian community, and especially for those who can’t afford to avail of this service or those who can’t walk to vaccination centers further away,” said Saam Chinoy who, along with his cousins Nadir and Homi Chinoy, organized a vaccination drive at Secunderabad’s Khan Bahadur Edulji Sorabji Chenai Anjuman Daremeher where 50 Parsis were inoculated. The trio was ably assisted by Jamshed Chinoy and Zareer Vasaigara. Jamshed also provided tea, coffee and biscuits.
The Chinoy cousins bore the expenses for beneficiaries living in housing units of the Anjuman Agiary, Bapu Bagh, Shapur Bagh and Sohrab Manzil trusts. The Chinoys thanked the management of Sunshine Hospital for help in vaccinating the members of the community.
On June 19, 40 Hyderabad Parsis were inoculated by the Bai Manekbai Nusserwanji Chenoy trust which sponsored the vaccinations for their beneficiaries. Those living in Shapur Bagh were also vaccinated there. Beyniaz Edulji