The Queens Come Calling

Foreign beauties make a beeline for India, the new outsourcing hub for pageant grooming

While jacqueline fernandez managed to get her pearly whites in perfect line, thanks to a visit to dental surgeon Sandesh Naik in Mumbai, the pretty Miss Sri Lanka would still get pangs of nervousness every time she looked at the well toned body of the competitors she8217;d be required to upstage at the Miss Universe contest in Los Angeles. Worse, even the Indian models she ran into seemed to have a better gait and persona. And then, it struck her. If you can8217;t beat them, join them.

What followed next was a two-week whirlwind grooming session: This included speech and diction, skin care, make-up and diet. And the fortnight prepared her as never before to take on the universe!

Miss Philippines, also on a visit to India, had different problems. Lia Andrea Ramos was scared she8217;d get tongue-tied while interacting with other Miss Universe contestants. There was also the problem of an obvious lack of self-confidence. Her solutions came in the form of a dance class, where ace choreographer Sandip Soparrkar took her through a 10-day training in Salsa and Latin American Ball Room dancing, adding tips on gait, confidence, etiquette and conversation skills. 8216;8217;She just wanted to know how to put her best foot forward. And what better means than dance to tell you that,8217;8217; says Soparrkar.

Call it outsourcing of a different kind or India8217;s coming of age in yet another field, but the country8217;s success in churning out international pageant winners with near alarming regularity has not gone unnoticed. At least three to four beauty queens from other countries visited Mumbai this year, for the purpose of getting groomed in the country of Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen.

Miss South Africa and Miss Kenya were among those who flitted between fitness expert Leena Mogre for toning up their bodies and Dr Jamuna Pai for yoga, meditation and skin care sessions.

8220;Last year too, some beauty queens had come to Mumbai for grooming sessions, but they were winners of local contests. For example, Miss India Canada or Miss NRI South Africa. This year, they were all Miss Universe contestants,8217;8217; says Dr Jamuna Pai who gave Jacqueline a complete skin care regime and treatment. 8220;These grooming facilities are still not available in Africa or Sri Lanka. So, these girls have explored the next best option by coming to India,8217;8217; she explains.

Leena Mogre, who put Miss Sri Lanka and Miss NRI South Africa through the paces of exercise, yoga and meditation, agrees. 8220;I taught them the value of stamina, strength and self-esteem. All these factors are crucial for every contestant,8217;8217; says the fitness expert who charges Rs 25,000-30,000 for her training capsule.

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So, is this the start of a trend of sorts? 8220;It8217;s too early to say that though two to three more countries have approached me for grooming their contestants,8217;8217; says Sathya Saran, editor, Me DNA, who facilitated the visit of Miss Sri Lanka.

Saran does not think the training of foreign beauty contestants in India poses a threat against our contestants. 8220;They come here because they realise Indian women have that certain something that makes them beautiful. If they want a chance to attain that, why not?8217;8217; she asks.

Sabira Merchant explains: 8220;I taught Jacqueline to be brief in her speech and to use her charm. But I also taught her to be her own individual person, to find her special magic, because that8217;s what matters.8217;8217;

With such an attitude, it8217;s little wonder that more and more countries seem to be looking at India for that perfect grooming destination. In fact, Kenya has even offered a special grooming session in India for their beauty queens.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More