Beauty pageants have always been associated with the elegance and gracefulness of women, and Femina Miss India is no different.
The competition began as a small, closed-off event but has slowly gained global success, attracting contestants from all over the world.
Aakanksha Mansukhani lives in Dubai and recently took the top spot in the regional Middle Eastern heat of the competition.
The 22-year-old is now on her way to Mumbai to battle it out against 29 other contestants for the Femina Miss India crown.
Dubai-based company Emirates Vision joined forces with the Times of India and Femina Miss India to select potential candidates of Indian nationality, residing in UAE for direct entry to the final of the competition which takes place in Mumbai on Saturday.
John Matthew of Emirates Vision explained: "The scouting took place back in November and judges from the Times of India, Femina Miss India and Emirates Vision selected three girls from Dubai and one from Oman. The standard was extremely high."
A total of 22 candidates applied and after much deliberation the panel hand-picked Reanne Rodrigues, Aakanksha Mansukhani and Jenai Kavarana from Dubai as well as Shruti Dilip from Oman.
‘Over the moon'
But with only one spot for a UAE entry, the panel put the girls through their paces at a 15-day training camp and Aakanksha came out on top.
Aakanksha's father, Naresh, says he was "over the moon" when he received the news his daughter had won.
He said: "I am so proud of her and cannot believe I am going to have the privilege of seeing my gorgeous daughter on stage with 30 of India's most amazing women. She has often told me she gets her energy from me when she's on stage so I will make sure I'm in the front row to encourage her as much as I can. She is a wonderful woman and deserves everything she has achieved."
Aakanksha attended Sharjah Indian School where she made many friends.
She has since worked as a model for various advertising campaigns in Dubai and is particularly renowned for her long, dark hair.
She was also the winner of Miss India Teen Queen Middle East at the Pantene Zee India Teen Queen 2002 beauty pageant.
Naresh added: "I urge everyone to go online and vote to support the girls from the UAE. They are just as much Indian as the girls who have been selected directly from our country."
Every year Femina Miss India receives more than 5,000 entries.
This year is the first year in which a finalist from Dubai has made the grand final of Femina Miss India.
Training in Dubai
Aakanksha had to prove herself in many ways before she was selected as the final contestant from the UAE.
A 15-day training programme was set up to do this, including:
Fitness and body toning to develop and shape up the body.
Weight reduction and diet balance
Skin care: taking the sensitivity factor of skin into consideration, all the therapies and programmes are well researched and tested to avoid any risk or side-effects.
Hair and make-up: a complete course including how to be sure the shades and texture you choose are for you as well as information and advice on how to highlight good points and camouflage bad.
Personality development: training on public speaking, presentation skills and question/answer tips.
Catwalk training: how to walk and create magic on the ramp.
Essentials
Contestants must be more than 5'7" (170cm) in height, of Indian nationality, unmarried and between the age of 18 and 23.
