Gladrags Manhunt And Megamodel Contest
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The Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest is an annual unisex pageant conducted by the Indian Gladrags magazine. The most appealing male and female models are selected and promoted by the magazine. They first conduct a round of selection from the regions and then post all the elimination rounds for the final contestants. The group undergoes training including physical fitness, grooming, catwalk, diction and speech.


Gladrags Manhunt Contest


History

The Gladrags Contest is an annual modeling event established in the early 1990s by Maureen Wadia, wife of industrialist Nusli Wadia, who owns
Bombay Dyeing Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Company Limited is an Indian textile company headquartered in Mumbai, India. It operates as a subsidiary of the Wadia Group and is one of India's largest producers of textiles. Its current chairman is Nusli Wadia. ...
, one of India’s oldest textile companies. Initially started to support Bombay Dyeing’s promotional efforts, Maureen Wadia created the Gladrags magazine, which functioned both as a fashion publication and a men’s magazine, featuring swimsuit images of models. The Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest, organized by the magazine, quickly became popular, later expanding to include additional competitions like Mrs. India and Little Miss and Master contests. The contest provided Bombay Dyeing with a steady source of models for its products, including bath and bed linens, while winners gained visibility that could launch careers in modeling or film. Unlike other beauty pageants, Gladrags contest was notable for its focus on the swimsuit round, with winners often featured on the magazine cover. The first Gladrags Manhunt Contest India was held in 1994. Rajat Bedi of
Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
was the first winner. He represented India at Manhunt International 1994 held in
Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...
and was awarded 4th Runner Up in the finale. At the 2017 event held at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
, winners across various categories were crowned. For the Little Miss & Master India Pageant, Mishika Sonkar and Shaurya Saraswat won in the juniors’ division, while Tithi Surti and Nikhil Chhabria won in the seniors’ category. Arni Sapkal won the Mrs. India Mumbai title, and Hina Azad and Bobby Vij were named winners of the Megamodel Manhunt Mumbai Pageant.


International achievements

In 2001, Rajeev Singh of
Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
became the first Asian and Indian to win the Manhunt International contest. He also won two sub-awards at the contest including Sharmoon Best Dressed Gentleman Award and Best in National Costume. After his victory he established himself in the Indian fashion industry as a successful model. India has produced many runners-up at the pageant, most notably
Dino Morea Dino Morea (; born 9 December 1975) is an Indian actor and former model who has appeared in Hindi, Tamil language, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu language, Telugu films. He began his career as a fashion model and made his film debut in ' ...
,
Zulfi Syed Zulfi Syed also known as Zulfikar Syed is an Indian model and actor. Syed Zulfi is a former winner of '' Gladrags Manhunt Contest''. He was a contestant in ''Bigg Boss''. Biography Syed was first noticed when he won ''Gladrags Manhunt'' contest ...
and
John Abraham John Abraham (born 17 December 1972) is an Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi films. Known for his stoic action hero persona, he is a recipient of a National Film Award along with nominations for four Filmfare Awards. Abraham ha ...
, all of whom have since established themselves in the
Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
industry. The contest has also given India some of the finest models ever seen by Indian fashion industry like supermodel Muzamil Ibrahim,
actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...
and model
Sidharth Shukla Sidharth Shukla (12 December 1980 – 2 September 2021) was an Indian actor, Television presenter, host and model who mostly appeared in Hindi television and films. He was known for his roles in ''Balika Vadhu'', ''Broken But Beautiful, Broken ...
, model Farhad Shahnawaz, actor and model Abhimanyu Jain, 4th runner up Manhunt International 2006 and Arry Dabas, semifinalist in 2012. Other notable winners include Romeo Gates, Ahran Chaudhary and Ravi Awana. In 2005,
Sidharth Shukla Sidharth Shukla (12 December 1980 – 2 September 2021) was an Indian actor, Television presenter, host and model who mostly appeared in Hindi television and films. He was known for his roles in ''Balika Vadhu'', ''Broken But Beautiful, Broken ...
, runner-up of Gladrags Manhunt 2004, represented India at the Best Model Of The World contest held in
Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
and became the first Indian to win the title. Later Shukla became a famous model in India and star in the
Indian film industry The cinema of India, consisting of Film, motion pictures made by the Indian film industry, has had a large effect on world cinema since the second half of the 20th century. Indian cinema is made up of various #Cinema by language, film indus ...
.


Winners of Gladrags Manhunt India


Representatives to Manhunt International

* The winner of the Gladrags Manhunt represents India at Manhunt International, but if for any reason the winner is unable to compete then a runner up is sent to the pageant.


Representatives to Best Model of the World

* The winner of the Gladrags Manhunt represents India at the Best Model of the World contest, but if for any reason the winner is unable to compete then a runner up is sent to the pageant.


Photographs of some notable winners of Gladrags Manhunt Contest

File:DinoMorea.jpg,
Dino Morea Dino Morea (; born 9 December 1975) is an Indian actor and former model who has appeared in Hindi, Tamil language, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu language, Telugu films. He began his career as a fashion model and made his film debut in ' ...
, Gladrags Manhunt India 1995 and Manhunt International 1995 - 1st Runner Up File:Zulfi Syed at the opening of Fluke store.jpg,
Zulfi Syed Zulfi Syed also known as Zulfikar Syed is an Indian model and actor. Syed Zulfi is a former winner of '' Gladrags Manhunt Contest''. He was a contestant in ''Bigg Boss''. Biography Syed was first noticed when he won ''Gladrags Manhunt'' contest ...
, Gladrags Mahnunt India 1996-97 and Manhunt International 1997 - 4th Runner Up File:JohnAbraham.jpg,
John Abraham John Abraham (born 17 December 1972) is an Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi films. Known for his stoic action hero persona, he is a recipient of a National Film Award along with nominations for four Filmfare Awards. Abraham ha ...
, Gladrags Manhunt India 1999 and Manhunt International 1999 - 1st Runner Up File:Sidharth Shukla (cropped).jpg,
Sidharth Shukla Sidharth Shukla (12 December 1980 – 2 September 2021) was an Indian actor, Television presenter, host and model who mostly appeared in Hindi television and films. He was known for his roles in ''Balika Vadhu'', ''Broken But Beautiful, Broken ...
, Best Model of the World 2005 and Gladrags Best Model 2004 runner-up


Gladrags Mega model Contest


History

The first Mega model contest was held in 1994, and girls all across the country competed for the coveted title.
Shweta Menon Shwetha Menon (born 23 April 1974) is an Indian actress, model, television anchor and beauty pageant titleholder. She has won '' Femina Miss India Asia Pacific 1994''. She has predominantly acted in Malayalam and Hindi language films, besides ap ...
of
Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
was declared the winner. Lara Dutta later established herself as a leading
Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
actress.


Winners


Representatives to Miss Intercontinental

* The winner of Gladrags Mega model represented India at Miss Intercontinental from 1997 to 2003. * Earlier Femina Teen Princess held the franchise of Miss Intercontinental pageant in India. * From 2011, Indian Princess holds the franchise of Miss Intercontinental in India.


Representatives to Miss Tourism International

* The winner of the Gladrags Mega model contest represented India at Miss Tourism International contest, but if for any reason the winner was unable to compete then a runner up was sent to the pageant. * Earlier
Femina Miss India Miss India, also known as Femina Miss India, is a national beauty pageant in India that selects representatives to compete in the Miss World competition, one of the Big Four international beauty pageants. It is organized by ''Femina (India), F ...
held the franchise of Miss Tourism International pageant in India. * From 2011 Indian Princess holds the franchise of Miss Tourism International in India.


Representatives to Miss Tourism Queen International


Representatives to Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International


Representatives to Best Model of the World

* The winner of the Gladrags Mega model contest represented India at Best Model of the World contest, but if for any reason the winner was unable to compete then a runner up was sent to the pageant.


References


External links


Gladrags Megamodel Manhunt
{{Beauty pageants in India Indian awards Male beauty pageants Beauty pageants in India 1994 establishments in Maharashtra