Femina Miss India Celebrates 61st Edition Sub-Title Awards in Mumbai; 30 State Winners Set for Grand Finale in Bhubaneswar

The 61st edition of Femina Miss India, India’s most prestigious and oldest beauty pageant owned and operated by the Times Group, commenced its celebration with a glittering sub-title award ceremony in Mumbai. Boasting a legacy spanning over six decades, the institution continues to serve as a definitive platform for young Indian women to achieve success, empowering them to dream big and leave an indelible mark on the world. Guided by a steadfast belief in the power of beauty to inspire confidence and foster self-expression, the pageant brings together diverse voices from across the nation. This year, the theme "Connecting the DOTS"—an acronym for "Daughters of This Soil"—celebrates India’s unity in diversity. During the event, the 30 state winners captivated the audience with their talent and poise, walking the runway in hand-beaded, intricate patchwork ensembles titled the ‘Banjara Trail,’ exclusively designed by Anmol Singh.

The evening recognized exceptional talent through several prestigious sub-titles awarded to the finalists. Mohana Pandey, Femina Miss India West Bengal 2026, was crowned Feminista Miss Lifestyle, while Parinaz Cooper, Femina Miss India Gujarat 2026, secured both the Times Miss Body Beautiful and Latin Quarters Miss Fashion Icon titles. Chanchui Khayi, Femina Miss India Manipur 2026, earned the Times Miss Radiant Personality award, and Ramya Kailasa, Femina Miss India Telangana 2026, was named Times Miss Photogenic. The Times Miss Rampwalk title went to Yashika Sharma, Femina Miss India Punjab 2026, while Medhavi Sabu, Femina Miss India Kerala 2026, won Times Miss IQ. Dhanushree Chauhan, Femina Miss India Madhya Pradesh 2026, was declared KIIT Bhubaneswar Miss Sudoku, and Maryam Longri, Femina Miss India Arunachal Pradesh 2026, received the Rajnigandha Pearls Miss Goodness Ambassador award.

The ceremony was graced by a distinguished guest list from Bollywood and the fashion industry, including Anu Malik, Celina Jaitly, Madhur Bhandarkar, Vindu Dara Singh, Terence Lewis, Neha Chudasama, Pooja Chopra, Tanuj Virwani, Mukesh Chhabra, Ken Ghosh, Harmeet Singh, and Abhimanyu Dassani. Musical sensations Sukriti and Prakriti Kakar added to the evening's grandeur with their captivating performances. Organized in partnership with the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar, and co-powered by Rajnigandha Silver Pearls, the competition now moves toward its ultimate stage. All 30 winners are scheduled to compete in the grand finale on April 18, 2026, in Bhubaneswar. The crowned winner will carry forward a glorious legacy established by global icons like Aishwarya Rai (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra (2000), and Manushi Chhillar (2017), as she prepares to represent India on the international Miss World stage.