AS OF Aug 20, Miss India Ekta Choudhry is not the hot favourite to win the Miss Universe contest.
Bookies have Miss Australia and Miss Mexico as the favourites. But the contest on Aug 23 in the Bahamas could see a different winner.
And many hope it will be MissIndia, whose odds of winning are 33/1 offered by Boylesports. The odds on offer for Miss Australia are 5/1 and Miss Mexico 10/1.
Designer Ritu Kumar, who has designed quite a few of MsChoudhry’s outfits for the finals, is convinced of Miss India’s abilities. “Her height, I think, is her strongest point and then comes her classic face. I see amazing confidence in her and hope that helps her bring the crown home,” she told The Times Of India.
Femina Miss India Earth 2009 Shriya Kishore is quite impressed with Ms Choudhry’s latest pictures at the pageant and says: “Ekta is one girl who can carry off any attire stylishly. Very few people have this quality. Right from the national costume round to the swimsuit round, she is looking gorgeous in all the pictures. Ekta is a very versatile person. Though we are very good friends, it’s not that easy to read her mind, and that I think is her biggest strength. Whatever the circumstances, she remains unaffected and is what she is.”
Ms Choudhry’s mother too agrees. She believes her daughter looks great in all the outfits, be it an evening gown or a bikini. “Ekta is a very elegant girl and has the ability to carry off any dress with grace. She is a very confident and determined girl.
“We are praying for her. She is competing with the best from all the countries. At times, your luck also becomes a deciding factor. God knows what questions she will be asked that day. Still I wish her the best of luck. I keep telling her not to be nervous and not to be bogged down with what other people say, just give it your best.”
During the two-hour pageant finale, a panel of renowned judges will select one winner from 84 contestants. Each entrant will be judged on their grace, intelligence and poise.
Access Hollywood co-host Billy Bush, along with Celebrity Apprentice star Claudia Jordan, will host the live telecast of the Miss Universe Pageant from Atlantis, Paradise Island, in the Bahamas.
Flo Rida will perform his hugely successful hits, Right Round and Jump as part of a two song medley during the swimsuit competition portion of the telecast.
Included in the show will also be a performance by reality star Heidi Montag featuring her single Body Language.
David Guetta and Kelly Rowland will set the tone for the evening gown portion of the pageant as they perform their hit single, When Love Takes Over.
The Miss Universe pageant will be telecast live over Star World (StarHub Ch 18) at 9am on Aug 24 (Monday).
