Reality TV & Beauty Pageants – From Siyaram’s Star Miss India (1998) to Miss Diva this year…
So Miss India Universe 2014 aka Miss Diva 2014 is going to be a reality show?!! Of course, Miss India does have reality shows since years (sing Main Miss India, in tune of Mehnaz’s famous number), but perhaps this year they may include some competition element to it? May be they are having challenger rounds? Let’s hope they don’t spoil the broth with audience vote which almost always brings up someone who would have never rose up on her own merit. Perhaps the most interesting reality show concept for beauty pageants is may be of Miss South Africa. I hadn’t followed it rigorously this year, but I have seen some videos and from that it seemed fun! Would love to see something of that sort for Miss India Universe this year!
Yesterday the news about Miss Diva being a reality show made me remember this odd pageant named Siyaram’s Star Miss India. I remember it came on TV about 15 years ago. I remember there were state-level titles and there were rounds like Pajama Party round where girls would parade in night-wears and stuff. I was too young to understand it much; neither was I interested. But I do remember the ads which filled the spaces between my favorite shows then, like Small Wonder. 🙂
When I mentioned about this to another admin, he did some research. Apparently the show was hosted (or, was to be hosted) by Manpreet Brar who had finished second in Miss Universe 1995. It is said that Manpreet always wanted to do something big on TV. I think she kept her word, I mean apart from this show she a debate-show that she hosted was a huge success. The other host was Alyy Khan, the British-Pakistani who starred in SRK’s Don 2. Honestly, I have no idea what happened to the show. Did it turn into a success? Was there an eventual winner? Or was it scrapped mid-way? I could not find anything on the internet about this. I read in an interview of Alyy Khan that the show had turned into disaster, but then it was vague information.
Anyways, the concept of reality shows is indeed interesting. They can have 10-15 girls, with some 10-15 episodes, showing bits of training, challenger events, etc. But yes, I again assert – no public vote please. I had rather have judges choose the best girl. Or may be some public vote just to choose a girl who can represent at some minor pageant – voting will keep people more interested perhaps.
Anyways, we can imagine and discuss for fun – but the real deal will be as it will be. 🙂 Let’s hope it lives up to the expectations. 🙂 We want another fantastic winner like Manasi!
