Should prestigious pageants like Femina Miss India & Miss Diva remove height criteria?
Imagine….
A child who watched the Miss India pageant on TV with her mother in late 2000s. Growing up, all she wanted was to win Miss India one day. Right from a very early age, she starts preparing towards being the most ideal candidate for Miss India. She maintains a healthy lifestyle, makes her academic profile stronger, builds her public speaking skill; she doesn’t leave a stone unturned. She is 21 now and thinks she is ready to finally put her years of preparation to test and participate in Miss India. But guess what! No matter how much she worked on her skills, there was something beyond her control that stops her from even trying to achieve her dream. Because she is 5’3″…………
She is sufficiently tall in terms of average height of Indian women, but short as per national pageants’ requirements. Unfortunately this is the story of millions of young girls across the country in India. Just having the dream of winning the crown and being ready to put all the required hard work is of no value, if you aren’t tall enough. But do we really need this criteria? Does this criteria hold any relevance in terms of talent of a person?
The only argument for having a height criteria at national pageants is that to win an international pageant, you need to be of a certain height. Firstly, except for a very few pageants, most prestigious international pageants such as Miss Universe and Miss World don’t have a minimum height requirement. More importantly, why do we define Miss India based on what international pageants want! Miss India in itself is a much more prestigious title than some of the so called “Big 4, 5, 6, 8…..” pageants. Except Miss Universe and Miss World, Miss India is actually an older organization as compared to the international pageants it caters to. Believe me when I say this – a common person in India only knows 2 international pageants, Miss World and Miss Universe, and these two pageants don’t have a height criteria.
Another argument is that even though there is no height criteria, shorter girls don’t perform well. This argument is also not completely valid as we have seen many examples of short contestants excelling in pageants.
-Miss Universe Honduras 2012 Jennifer Andrade was just 5’2″ yet won her national pageant and represented her country at Miss Universe pagent.
-Paromita Mitra, a girl of South Asian origin had won the Miss Mississippi pageant and represented her state at the Miss USA 2013. Paromita’s height is 5’3”. Paromita had also previously won the Miss Teen Mississippi 2009 pageant.
-The 1st runner up from Miss America 2012 pageant, Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson, was just 5’2”, the winner in the same year from Wisconsin, Laura Kaeppeler, was also just 5’4”.
-The chairperson of Miss World, Ms. Julia Morley, herself has said that you can be 5’1” and still win Miss World.
This is the era of social media where height isn’t the most important factor that can help you shine. Many successful Instagram influencers who are currently ruling the digital space, are not “tall enough” as per Miss India’s requirements. But those girls are still very successful in their chosen field. Gone are the day when you had to be of a certain height to be a model. That might be true to some extent even today. But there’s a more lucrative career in the beauty and fashion industry than modelling, and that’s called being an influencer. You don’t need to be 5’8” to be a successful influencer! All you need is talent! The audience won’t follow you just because you are tall or short. They will follow you only if they like you and what you are bringing to the table. If that’s the case, will it be fair to stop talented young girls from participating in Miss India? May be by stopping them, Miss India is missing out on crowning a potential future superstar!
It’s about time to bring some change! Removing height criteria is not just beneficial for the participants, it will also help Miss India in growing its base. It’s about being more inclusive in variety of selection. Miss India will become more accessible, more relatable and more achievable of every Indian girl who thought the crown should be on her head. And not just crown, we know for sure that many girls below 5’5″ would go to any extent just to be on that stage, let alone winning.
Having said this, we also acknowledge the face that Femina Miss India and Miss Diva had been quite open to feedback and suggestions from TGPC and other pageant influencing pages. Few of the many suggestions are listed as below:
- We said, give us stage representatives, Femina did it in 2017. Whoaaa!!!
- We said, remove reality show format from Miss Diva and make it a real time pageant. They did it in 2018.
- We said, appoint a representative for Diva this year and send the winner to next edition of Miss Universe. Miss Diva did it in 2019.
- We said, keep the finale live and ticket based so that fans can watch it personally. The listened to us.
- Miss India org has previously reduced the height criteria from 5’6″ to 5’5″ to be more accommodating of talents.
So, for all the girls below 5’5″ who want just ONE chance to be considered for the pageant, we urge you Miss India and Miss Diva, let’s scrap the height criteria and revolutionise the Indian pageantry once again!!!
If you believe Height criteria should be removed. Don’t forget to comment below.
Article by: Jinendra Aherkar
Please sign this petition
https://www.change.org/removeheightcriteriacompletelyforlivamissdiva
Beauty doesn’t present height or weight or age, it presents humanity, courage, journeys, talent and passion. They should remove such criteria.
I am 4’11. I am too short. But height is something which was not in my hands, its heredity. I strongly feel the should remove the height criteria.
Also wanted to know that can we participate in miss world with winning or participating in miss india or miss diva?
I agree with you
I am also 4 feet 11 inch. I hope that they will remove the height criteria soon. If not they didn’t deserve us(short people) and we also don’t need anyone who can’t appreciate how the way we are😊❤✨
Its true , height criteria for Miss india should be 5 1 atleast as avg indian women ARE 5 1 !!( If they think that height matters so much for stage presence ) considering the country we live in , it MUST BE 5 1 … its commendable how Femina reduced the height criteria to 5 3 in 2020 and that indeed is a huge revolution in Indian paegantry … still.. i believe that there are lot more girls out there…who need to be given a platform..as a national and acclaimed paegant show … they SHOULD take up the responsibilty to provide oppurtunities to young women out there…I know how miserable it feels when the realisation dawns upon you arent “eligible” for the only dream u have been seeing for years ??!! Now should our genetic traits decide the dreams that we should see ? Paegantry isnt the same as Modelling (though inclusiveness in that feild too is also a need bt thats a different topic anyways) If ure looking for women who have the potential to change the world , who ca create an example , then pls pls pls BE THE ONE WHO SHALL GIVE HER THE WINGS TO MAKE THE CHANGE . Paegantry in India must start considering girls of height 5 1 and above so that WHAT THEY PREACH IS ALSO PRACTICED . BEAUTY COMES FROM WITHIN . I request TGPC to consider this fact and urge Femina And Diva to make their criterias more inclusive . Hope to see the change soon !
Yaa…I totally agree with this article.I really want to participate in these beauty pageants,but i wouldn’t be able to make it because of my height:( The height criteria prevents the potential girls from showcasing their talents.I wish there were no such barriers 😦
Waiting for a change hopefully!!!
Yes this height criteria should be remove as I am 5.2 and wanted to represent India in international platform but due to height its seems like dream to me…..
I truly believe that beauty is skin deep. This height criteria does not allow a lot of young talented girls to participate in this prestigious contest. Now it’s the time to remove all such criteria.
I truly believe that beauty is skin deep. This height criteria does not allow a lot of young talented girls to participate in this prestigious contest. Now it’s the time to remove all such criteria.
I absolutely agree to this….there are a huge number of girls who have excellent potential to make a mark, just the height criteria keeps them! moreover, we have come so far breaking the Visual beauty standards ,being open towards accepting and celebrating women the way they are yet, it’s heartbreaking to still have this barrier merely based on a physical character.
We are fighting against it..it should be removed because average Indian girl’s height if 5’1
I am 5’4, I want to live this dream when I was around 10 but that time ,I don’t know that my height will be the barrier and today when I turn 21, I feel why I saw that dream which I unable to fullfill , why height is the issue, we can also carry the legacy of the crown , we have the potential and desire to make my country proud. At night I always watch pageantry videos and realise that I can’t be the part of this journey. May be I am little unfortunate but that’s not fair. We saw the dream we have the ability to fullfill but such restrictions are stopping us .
Hiii , I Ritul Kumari I am 5 .2 inches tall want to participate in miss india but height criteria stops me to do so. Let’s raise our voice against it .
Yes, please remove the height cretiria
yes ,also atleast make it 5 feet
Want to talk to uu plz plzz we are also fighting for height criteria olz help us we have 200-400 girls group we need help people like youjj
Yes height can never stop anybody’s dreams so it should b removed
Yes plzzz remove the height criteria
I stand with you. #removeheightcriteria
yes, what we need is real talent not just a height.so please remove it
Remove the height criteria!
Yes, there should be no height requirement because every girl should be given opportunity and a girl can never be defined by her height or any of her physical featursf.its the personality that matters.
Height criteria should be removed from miss india contest yet evry girls cant be 5.6 to 5.9.Talent should be the major criteria.plzz do justice India .
Congrats TGPC for this article… I am slightly more than 5’4″ though not 5’5″.Pls do more articles that MIO notices the facts that even Miss World Nepal requires only 5’4″ and many countries doesn’t have a criteria at all… Pls help us that changes will be soon made… We don’t deserve to fail even without trying.
Yes……there are many girls out there who have plenty of talent in themselves but just can’t participate and fullfill their dreams because of some lacking. We all have some or the other flaws, so why not ignore that flaws and light up the talent. I wish that the height criteria will be eliminated soon, because it’s not height that matters it’s the self confidence and talent that matters.
Thanks TGPC for this highly relevent article… I am 5’4″+ but not 5’5″. That small difference is frustrating me. Please do more articles on this and brought to notice by the officials…Even Miss World Nepal requires only 5’4″ and some countries don’t have a criteria at all. Hope changes will be made soon
Well said, I agree with their too. .. Height is something that is not in our hands and not we can not do anything to grow taller.
Yes, height criteria should have to be removed from our indian pageants. I think a person talent is more worth than how tall she is. Like in America there is no height criteria for participating in their pageants because they understand this thing then why can’t our india understand. That’s why our country is not winning because all the real talent is behind the bars of height criteria🙃
Height isn’t something that can be changed how much ever hard you work, unlike ur body weight ….. totally a biological thing! What matters in pagents is talent and a beautiful heart! So I feel height should not be considered as a criteria for participation! Hope miss India takes away this criteria soon!
Yes, the height criteria should be removed as the talent doesn’t come with a height
Please remove that height criteria ,please!!
http://chng.it/vdhLZcV46Z
This is a petition for removal the criteria
Will it really work ?
I guess you should do this on some other screen as here it will not reach to many.
plz request them to remove height criteria from all beauty peagent contests
Plzz I request miss India and miss diva org to remove height criteria….each and every girl cannot be as tall as 5’5″ there are many reasons for it to not be so….there are many girls who are below the required height but are very talented and passionate about there dreams(I’m one of them)pls remove the height requirements 🙏🙏🙏
Height is something which is very genetic and not all Indian girls from all states can achieve that height because of the genes bounded to that particular area, their food habits and medical issues as well. It should be removed.
Yes. I do think that young girls should have more opportunities to showcase tgeir talent. Even i am one of miss diva aspirant but still not eligible for the competition being 5’3 and want to represent my country internationally one day. And i am quite sure of the fact that if given opportunity i will do justice to the opportunity..its been my dream for years and secretly think that i have got this x factor in me. I am ready to work as much hard as possible to make my country proud. Thousands of girls like me dreamt of being a beauty queen one day and all we want is one opportunity. Plz miss diva and miss india org give us one chance to prove our worth and hence our country’s worth😊
I’m also dreamer who wishes to an achieve the dream of crown on my head ..and proudly represent country to international level..I’m just 5.3 and working hard on my dreams..everyone said i have talent and passion but I want to showcase my talent to international..they want to remove height for girls like me
Yes , I agree with your point because I am one of them , who sacrificed a lot of things for miss India but just for a height criteria , I was rejected . Since. My child hood , my one and only dream is become a miss India . In my class where other student were said that they want to become a doctor and engineer, I am only one who want to become a miss India . I am small town girl , I fought with a lot of people but at last I was rejected .
Remove hight criteria
Yes offcourse
They should remove height criteria that’s matter most of girls life who hasn’t matched that criteria
Yes definitely
They should remove the height criteria.
Hello this is priyal bhatt. The height criteria must be removed. I was just 6 years old when I decided to get that crown I’m 19 now but can’t participate just because of height criteria.i request you please remove this criteria.
Hello myself jyoti and am so disheartened because of the height criteria of miss india i always want to be a miss india and represent my country in international platform but unfortunately my height is 5’3 which stops me to make my dreams true . But today i really want to say this to all the members of the miss india organisation that height is not x factor the talent is the main factors to win this title and i have felt many tym that many girl are sitting inside the home having so much talent but not getting the gloden opportunity , today i really want to request to all leaders and heads of miss india organisation that give us one chance and i promise u that I’ll be the next girl who will you proud and country proud as well i hope iss letter koi pdh rha ho hme ek chance soche plz am begging because i can anything to me you all with full of pride . Am only 8 years old and am planning to participate next year 2021 plz do something for those girl who really having so much potential . So plz its my humble request give us one chance and think about this and if you will do something about this so next year damn your going to so many talent were left to see plz natasha grover ma’am plz doing something am so desperate and passionate about miss india .
Thankyou.
They can perhaps , withdraw the height criteria for atleast ONE year and see how it goes.
They should give us a chance atleast once, benefit of the doubt is all what we need.
Does anyone know how to contact the organisation?
Because when I did try mailing and calling them, there’s absolutely no response.
I hope somehow this article is read by them.
We just need ONE CHANCE not more.
I’m sure we will be able to bag many international crowns for India.
Hey I’m Aishwaryaa my height is 5″2 and I want to be Miss India
You can email them in thier email account which is there on their Facebook page
Hello Girls, this is me Shevani Dalvi here, a dreamer hustling for my Dream to turn into a reality but sadly I’m 5’2″ and can’t win Femina Miss India beacuse of their norms. Let me tell you they can’t describe you. It’s you who can prove right. Girls out there who are 5’5″ BELOW IN HEIGHT CRITERIA let me tell you they won’t do it for us. Its we who can stand for ourselves. So why not we take stand for it. Let’s gather together , sign a petition and put our views to them and make a change. Let’s do this together as a team for each and every of our Dream. If you want this to happen please reply me. GIRLS LET’S MAKE A CHANGE. EQUALITY IS EQUALITY IN EVERY SENSE!
Then where is the petition?
Plz start the petition
I’m starting a petition
HELLO EVERYONE!
I’ve gone through all of your replies and I am overwhelmed by the support I’m getting. If we support and stand with each other then this is really gonna be possible. So girls who all are with me reply on this comment and let’s make a petition and take it to them not only as a petition but with proper study in such a way that they will agree to the demand we are demanding. So who is with me.
I am with you. Can we start our own whatsapp group and discuss about the ideas of changing this criteria. I am sure it will be productive as hell plz girls i want support from your side. I am 19 years old and iitjee aspirant but deep down i know that i am only made to have this crown on my head. I know, The level of efforts i have put in to increase my height since age of 16 when manushi won.but nothing has happened because its a genetic factor and all we want is an opportunity to showcaseour talent and prove our worth. So i think that we should start by creating awareness among young girls through this whatsapp group. ☺
I am woth you
http://chng.it/vdhLZcV46Z here
Hi , I am Sania Rana , I am a teenage girl ,from my childhood i dreamt to win Miss India but I am very much worried now because my height is 5.3 . I am ready to sign a petition to make this change .
Start the petition. We will surely join. Its really unfair.. plz do it
http://chng.it/vdhLZcV46Z petition
I am with you
You know I am slightly more than 5’4″ and had been so frustrated for if we were born in the neighboring country, we would have got a chance… I support you guys with my whole heart…. Go ahead girl…. This should happen not only for us but the world do deserve us
Yes height criteria should be removed because
every girl wants to become Miss World .we cannot imagine when a girl dreaming since her childhood to become Miss World but at age of 17or 18 she find that due to less height she can’t participate in miss India.. We can’t imagine how bad she felt.. Some girls even tried to do sucide when they find that their dream can’t fullfilled
Girls why dont we all gather together and put a petition in fron of them and proving them that girls below 5’5″ are also worth winning Femina Miss India crown. If you girls support me and have same vision then reply me, we will together take some action and put our views to them and make a change.
Let’s do that!!
Plz do it.. plzz..
Okay so who all are with me. text me on instagram will make group and discuss what has to be done further.My instagram ID : shevani_dalvi
Hey! Thank you TGPC for bringing forward such an important issue. It’s 5:36 in the morning and here I am, commenting on this post of yours not because I’m a morning person, but because I was not able to sleep whole night. Since childhood, every step of mine was towards at least participating in Miss India, if not winning it. I’m 19 right now and I stand 5 foot 4 inches tall. Tall enough according to the average Indian height but not tall enough to even give a shot to my dream? I truly believe I have the capability of representing my country at international pageant yet. I’m a law student, a debater, a singer, a positive person having a firm dedication towards a ‘purpose’ that Miss World Organisation supports every year yet I’m not able to even present my self at the auditions.
Still the optimism in me keeps me motivated and I hope Miss India Organisation will reduce the height criteria and break their typical stereotype about ‘beautiful women being tall’.
Hoping for all my ‘short’ ladies here. Your dream will indeed become true.
Thank You
This is exactly same as my story. People say follow your dreams & passions, & I had done that. I had prepared myself since childhood to win a prestigious beauty pageant title but In the Miss Diva audition I got disqualified just because of 2 inches. All my passions, hardwork, dedication went in vain. It broke my heart. Height doesn’t describes talent. It’s the passion, hardwork, dedication & of course talent which describes it. These beauty pageant organizations are loosing thousands of talented girls just because of their height criteria. 5 feet is the perfect height of an average Indian woman. They should understand. It is really disappointing to reject a girl just because of her height even if she is more & 5 feet which is the perfect height of an Indian woman. But only because of this height criteria many girls get completely heartbroken, depressed & gets in a shock seeing are dreams are scattered into pieces. I completely agree with the decision of changing the height criteria. It will be helpful for getting a perfect titleholder. Mainly focusing on the heights doesn’t find true diamonds.
I think if a big platform Femina Miss India has worked upon some criteria which you have asked them to upgrade it then I strongly feel and suggest that to remove height criteria as well. Average Indian women height is 5′. They should accept it and search for more. I am sure there would be n. No. Of talented girls below 5’5″ who will do wonders. I myself want to participate in Miss India give my best and represent my country internationally not for me but for my country. Just give us a chance and see the difference. Chabge is the only constant!
A sad truth!
I’m 5’4 and the criteria is 5’5… As per 2019 I’m 17 years old & I don’t think my height will grow a more inch within a year span.. I can see my dreams being crushed under this pillar of height criteria…
All I can do now is hope that they remove the height criteria 😦 Or else … IDK I want a chance….
I definitely support it because there are many girls who dreamt of representing their country and winning the pageant but because of height criteria only many talented girl aren’t able to do so…
# All the disheartened girls supports you…and hope to see soon the change
Yes there should be no height criteria it’s not worth it
Heyyyy…… Guys! This is really my story. From my childhood, to be Miss India was my deep desire. Somehow at the age of 18 I accepted it that now I finally want to participate. I have started all my preparations. I was soo happy and excited but also unaware of the fact that is height criteria. In 2018 I went to participate in my state auditions with my sister. She was 17 and had full faith on me. We both were sure that I am gonna selecte. I was confident. When we reached at the venue, I looked around to see all the girls who are participating. I got more confident that yes I can do this bcoz I knew that I have got this in me. And I also knew about height criteria but I also knew about many former contastants who were less than 5.5 and won Miss world. That’s why I was confident. When I stood there on the stand for height check up. He said I am sorry you are less than 5.5. Worst part was I could see in his eyes that he also realized I have got this but bcz I didn’t cross height criteria. I was rejected. I was shattered. With my broken heart I went to my sister, she said what happened, I said they rejected me on my height. WORST part to see the girls who have just height and nothing in them ( No body language, no face, no walk, no x Factor) ( no offense to anyone) were entering the venue. I cried a lot, within 2 -3 days, when I came back to normal life, I decided to hit it again, but I also understood a little bit politics behind this, so Next year , first, I went for my state beauty peagent auditions( they’re associated with Femina Miss India), I reached to the grandfinale stage won award for beauty angel. Again I felt it, I didn’t make it to top becoz of just height, other wise I was standing there all confident, holding myself, standing strong and smiling. I also participated in National level winter carnival, one of my groomer also said to me, you’re God Gifted, please go for acting, BECOZ for this you need to be very tall, for femina Miss India. Otherwise you have everything. I said OK to everyone, everywhere. N said each and everytime to myself that EQUALITY MEANS EQUALITY, one day i am gonna change this for all the girls who are said to be Petite, even their height is more than the Indian women’s average height.N also for those who are even less than the average height of women of our country. Time is changing and we can be limitless, why to walk on the path of others . We can create our own unique path and can be victorious. I am again participating this year, I believe in femina Miss India organization and Miss diva, that they will believe in their girls who are said that they are Not enough. WE CAN CREATE WONDERS AND WE WILL BREAK ALL THESE STEREOTYPES. I am thankful for this page to bring such a sensible issue in light because it really really matters. Thankyouuuuuu sooo much.
Yes you are absolutely right
I believe height doesn’t define a person’s character, capability so I want height criteria to be removed as there are many girls in India whose dream of representing India internationally has been shattered just because of height
Hi
Yes please height criteria should be redesigned please
I m one of them who is near to 5’5 but couldnt be selected for this as i have a muscualr talll body.. would be glad if i will get a chance again. Thankyou
Height can in no way define a person or her talent. If pageants include all complexions, all races, all religions, all languages then why not all heights.
Yes 100% agree
Every woman is beautiful in her own way,
And Talent certainly doesnt come in any size!
Its not about being skinny or heighted, bt also being physically fit, and active with a positive attitude.
Lot of other factors do matter, and Height criteria being an integral part of the pagent is one of it..
Since the winners of national pageants have to represent their respective countries at International platform its bounded to the pageantry world..
According to me it can be abolished from the national pagents if its been abolished from International pageants too.
I agree. While contesting in a pageant, inner beauty is more important than outer charm. Height can never be a criterion to measure beauty…
Yes strongly agree. Irrespective of the height criteria a Miss India has potential to bring the International crown. And if the international pageants themselves don’t have any height criteria what’s the point to apply it on the national level pageant. Time to change.
Exactly,the issue of height should be remove,there are girls those who are talented and can bring crowns in India even being 5’3 or 5’4.
Organization should work on this.
Bringing pride to our own country should not be measured in terms of a number that one cannot control. Totally for no height criteria!!
Totally agree. I’m 5’4″ & it’s extremely saddening for me to not be able to go for Miss India auditions; but I’ve been convincing myself w the reasons that they put but personally, I believe pageants need to be a little accepting & progressive in this matter, Our country has talents hidden everywhere from societal pressure, norms & what not & now that we’ve technology trying to reach the corners of the country we see so many ppl coming up w their names in many fields! if only the height is something stopping them entering them to this pageant world, it IS unfair. I believe we’ll get to some sol for this in future definitely 🙂
Yes height criteria shoub be removed because short height isn’t a barrier we can also represent our country internationally 🤗and can bring the crown and glory to our country ❤
Yes definitely they should remove hight criteria because talent should not be bounded in criteria’s.
Yes definitely.
They should remove hieght criteria.
I am 23 yrs old, I want to increase my height just to participate in “Miss World India” however, doctor’s and my gym trainer already told me that my height won’t increase now.
And that’s so disheartening.😔
Yes definitely they should remove the height criteria because every girl should be given an equal opportunity and short girls too can represent their country well internationally.
Yes!! Height criteria has to be removed every girl must be given equal opportunity it cannot be shortlisted by lack of height ….so I request them to remove it…
Ye I completely believe in the above words said . Miss India is a platform where one can come breaking all the social barrier and fight for the change for not only India but throughout the whole world . It’s a very big platform for one to not only stand as miss India but also to learn many things and enrich their confident but one think only it is lacking is the height criteria why is it even there like if they are making other Beautiful girls to love themself the way they are to love themself whether they are black or white etc other matters then y with the height of the girls it’s still a big problem there are many beautiful women from the other country eho became miss world even they were short then y can’t India do the same at the end it’s not the height which matter the most to become a miss world it’s the beauty of the girl through her soul for the world and the fire inside her to change the world
Yes, they should remove this Cretiria