Crowning glory for Darjeeling girl

MUMBAI: For Jyoti Brahmin, life was decidedly beautiful on Thursday. Just when the game seemed over, the coveted crowns of Miss India-Earth and Miss India-World changed heads.
The 23-year-old Darjeeling girl was bestowed the Miss India-Earth 2004 title, while 20-year-old Sayali Bhagat from Mumbai was crowned Miss India-World on Thursday.
Bhagat, who had earlier bagged the Miss India-Earth title, was elevated after Lakshmi Pandit surrendered her Miss India-World crown, following controversy over her marital status.
Brahmin was the third runner-up in the Pond''s Femina Miss India contest held on March 27. The new winners sashayed down the ramp with Miss India-Universe Tanushree Dutta in a hotel (Taj Land''s End) in Bandra.
On being asked how she felt about this new development, Bhagat replied with a grin, "My life has always been full of surprises. I am as nervous and excited as I was on March 27."
She refused suggestions that the controversy, which had led to her elevation, would in any way affect her performance or credibility at the Miss World contest.
On finding herself suddenly in the spotlight, Brahmin said, "It was totally unexpected for me. I was delighted to be among the 29 finalists and being crowned is like the icing on the cake."
The winners said they sympathised with Pandit. Dutta said, "Lakshmi''s decision to surrender the crown has been a personal one and commenting on that would be unfair to her."
Replying to a question, managing director of Times Infotainment Media Limited A P Parigi said the system of verifying applications would not change following the recent developments.
"We will continue to check credentials only till the level where we don''t compromise on the dignity and credibility of the young women who participate in the event."
The girls were dressed in exclusive creations by Nisha Sagar. Their jewellery was designed by Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri.
Prajeet Bhudale was gifted a crown worth Rs 2 lakh, sponsored by Pond''s, for the prize-winning question, "If you had the choice to exchange your beauty for anything else in the world, what would that be and why?"