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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Meet Nandini Gupta, India's hope for Miss World 2025 crown: From Kota's fields to global stage
Meet Nandini Gupta, India's hope for Miss World 2025 crown: From Kota's fields to global stage | Pics It's been 8 years since Manushi Chhillar brought the Miss World crown home, and fans are wondering if Nandini Gupta can help India reclaim the throne this year. ...read more 1 / 5 View Photos in a new improved layout The glamour, the grace, the global spotlight — Miss World 2025 is ready to dazzle audiences as the grand finale takes place at the HITEX Convention Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana. With 108 contestants from across the globe competing for the coveted title, India's eyes are firmly set on one rising star: Nandini Gupta.(Image by X) 2 / 5 View Photos in a new improved layout At just 21, Nandini is already carrying the hopes of a nation that is no stranger to pageant glory. After all, it has been eight years since Manushi Chhillar brought the Miss World crown home in 2017, and fans are wondering, could this be the year India reclaims the throne?(Image by X) 3 / 5 View Photos in a new improved layout Nandini isn't your typical pageant poster girl. Hailing from Kota, Rajasthan (best known as India's coaching capital for engineering and medical aspirants), her story is one of grit, grounded beginnings, and sky-high ambition. Raised by a farmer father and a homemaker mother, with a younger sister by her side, Nandini's childhood was woven between fields of mustard, millets and black chickpeas. "I grew up playing in the fields," she shared in an interview with SheThePeople, adding a nostalgic note to her humble origins.(Image by X) 4 / 5 View Photos in a new improved layout Beauty pageants were not just a passing fascination for her; they were destiny. 'As a 10-year-old, I always wanted the crown for its beauty,' she revealed in an interview with Femina. 'But as I grew older, I realised it's much more than that. It's a platform that gives you wings to fly, while keeping your simplicity intact.'In 2023, that dream took flight when she won the 59th edition of Femina Miss India World, beating out contestants from every state. Now, she is all set to represent India on the Miss World stage, a dream turned into dazzling reality.(Image by X) 5 / 5 View Photos in a new improved layout What sets Nandini apart is not just her beauty but her sharp mind and business flair. An alumna of Saint Paul's Senior Secondary School in Kota, she pursued a Business Management degree at Mumbai's Lala Lajpat Rai College, fuelled by a passion for entrepreneurship and leadership. She is clear about who inspires her, too. Industrialist Ratan Tata tops her list: 'He does everything for humanity and donates most of it to charity. Loved by millions and always grounded.' As for beauty queens, none other than Priyanka Chopra, the global powerhouse of ambition and achievement, is her icon.(Image by X)
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Hyderabad: Miss World 2025 contestants to attend IPL match as part of pageant festivities
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Hyderabad is all set to welcome the world as the city prepares to host the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant on May of the big day, Telangana's Information & Public Relations Department has released an itinerary outlining the high-profile events planned across the state. According to the schedule, the state has planned several key activities, including one where the Miss World contestants will have the opportunity to attend an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on May key activities include a heritage walk at Charminar and Laad Bazaar on May 12; visiting the Chowmahalla Palace on May 13; trips to Warangal Fort, Thousand Pillar Temple, and Ramappa Temple; and a Perini dance performance on May 14, among special arrangements have been made at Shamshabad Airport to welcome the global delegates. Telangana Tourism has planned a warm, traditional welcome in Telangana style. Starting today, more international contestants are expected to arrive, and the airport has set up special lounges and help desks to assist arches featuring Telangana's tourist attractions and cultural symbols have been installed, creating a festive mood. The slogan "Telangana Jaroor Aana" (Must Visit Telangana) is being displayed in many places to promote the state as a travel Telangana government also aims to use the Miss World platform to boost tourism. In 2024, the state recorded over 1.5 lakh international event is set to take place at the HITEX Exhibition Centre and will feature participants from over 120 countries. This marks the second consecutive year that India will host the international beauty reigning Miss World, Karolina Bielawska from Poland, will crown her successor at the grand finale. Femina Miss India World 2023, Nandini Gupta, will represent India on the international stage.
Khaleej Times
29-04-2025
- Khaleej Times
Panic buying, no trains: Former UAE residents recall 'mayhem' post power outage in Spain, Portugal
For former UAE resident Femina Naseer, Monday was a chaotic experience. The mother of four was one of the thousands affected by power outages in Lisbon for over 9 hours. 'The power went out at around 11.30am,' she told Khaleej Times. 'Initially, we thought it was just our building, but soon everyone in our group started saying they had also lost power. Our phone signal stayed on for two hours after the power outage began. So I could communicate with my husband, who was out at the time. Luckily, all four of my children were at home.' The outage brought parts of Spain and Portugal to a standstill, grounding planes, halting public transport, and leaving the two countries scrambling to restore power to millions of homes and businesses. According to her, there was sheer chaos on the streets as well. 'When the traffic lights went out, my husband was caught in the mayhem. But within about half an hour, people began getting out and controlling the traffic themselves,' she said. 'The airport really suffered. The petrol stations also stopped working. It was really a one-of-a-kind experience.' She added that her husband stopped at a Chinese store to buy candles and battery-operated emergency lights. 'The shop owners had kept all battery-operated things in the front of the shop,' she said. 'They were selling like hotcakes. I asked him not to stop at the supermarket because a friend of mine who went to buy candles got stuck there for hours to pay. There was a lot of panic buying, so supermarket shelves were almost completely emptied out.' She said that within a few hours, the phone and internet stopped working. 'It was not possible to make local calls either,' she said. She said that many institutions rely heavily on phone lines, adding: 'Last November, the medical system changed, and people with emergencies also have to call for an appointment. They will then direct people to the right emergency room.' 'Doors not opening' Her first concern was that she couldn't get her front door open. 'We have a door that opens with a remote control,' she said. 'So our home maintenance company sent someone to open it. We then put a sponge so it would not close." She added that with the building entrance being powered by an electric system, controlled by a card or a remote, the outage meant that people inside their homes could not ring in people coming from outside. They had to manually come down and open the building gate. This also meant that tenants who were outside their building, with no one at home, were locked out unless the company came and opened it for them, Femina added. She said that the family was lucky to have cash at home and that she offered to send food out to those who were unable to cook. 'A lot of people use induction cookers,' she said. 'We were lucky enough to have a gas burner cooker, so I offered to cook for those who couldn't. In Lisbon, there are a lot of old people living in two- or three-story buildings. These people would have been impacted when the lifts went out of order. The initial estimate was that we would be without power for 72 hours but thankfully, power was restored in 9 hours.' For Femina's four kids — twins aged 18, an 8-year-old, and a 6-month-old- it was an experience of a lifetime. 'My kids cleaned and slept,' she said. 'My 8-year-old even found a toy that had been missing for two years. For me, the experience reminded me of my childhood. My kids brought all their toys out into the hall and played with them. I think it was a good bonding experience.' She added that some schools gave students the day off on Tuesday. According to her, many families are now stocking up on battery-operated appliances and food items to avoid being caught in a similar situation in the future. 'Had to sit on a bench at the station' Mita Srinivasan, a UAE resident, has been checking her phone since Monday evening. Her 75-year-old cousin, Sumit Das Gupta, who is a US citizen, is stuck in Spain with his wife after train services were disrupted due to the power failure. 'They were travelling from Barcelona to Madrid last evening,' Mita said. 'They were asked to go to the North Station for a bus, but once they got there, they were told no tickets could be issued because the systems were down.' The couple had to return to the South Station and decided to wait overnight, sitting on a bench. 'I can't believe they had to spend the night in a train station. They are elderly, and I was so worried. My cousin is over 75 years old. He's a US citizen and loves travelling, but this situation really caught them off guard.' 'He was in line for tickets at 7am after spending the night on the bench at the railway station,' said Mita. Mita said she felt helpless being so far away, but has been in touch with them constantly to ensure they are okay. Flights between UAE and Europe affected Flights between Dubai and Lisbon experienced disruptions following the blackout, an Emirates spokesperson confirmed to Khaleej Times on Tuesday. However, Etihad Airways, which operates flights to both Spain and Portugal, said its operations were unaffected. Travel rush between Europe and UAE to pick up soon According to Subair Thekepurathvalappil, Senior Manager at Wisefox Tourism, this incident comes just before a major surge in UAE-Europe travel. 'Currently, travel between the UAE and Europe is mostly limited to business travellers,' he said. 'But from mid-June onwards, we expect a big jump in travel, especially with the summer holidays starting. Flights will be packed through September, and even finding seats may become difficult due to high demand.' He added that travellers should be prepared for unexpected issues and advised people to book early, carry essentials, and stay updated with airline alerts.
India.com
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Amitabh Bachchan's daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan called Rekha as 'Maa' because..., reason will leave you shocked
Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha's rumoured affair is something everyone in the country knows about. The dynamic duo left no stone unturned in entertaining their fans. However, despite the steaming romance rumours, the duo never tied the knot and instead got married to their respective partners. However, there is one person who always had high regard for Rekha. If you are wondering who this person is, then let us tell you—it is Amitabh Bachchan's daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Aish never fails to show her admiration towards Rekha and shares a very warm bond with her, which is often captured on camera—from accompanying her to red-carpet events to greeting her or even talking about her with all the love. Do you know that Aishwarya often addresses Rekha as 'maa'? While many may think that this is due to a mother-daughter bond, let us tell you that is not the story. Everyone knows that Aishwarya is fond of Rekha, and one of the biggest similarities between both the actresses is that they belong to the South. In South India, a tradition that is fondly followed is to address elder women as 'mother' aka 'maa.' Following this, Aishwarya addresses Rekha as her mother, and even the veteran actress reciprocates it with love. You will be amazed to know that when Aishwarya completed her 20 years in Bollywood, Rekha wrote a heartwarming letter to the former Miss World, which was published in the 2018 edition of Femina. In the letter, Rekha addressed herself as 'Ma'. The letter read, 'My Ash, A woman like you who is in harmony with her spirit is like a flowing river, never stagnant. Having endured many hurdles, like the phoenix you rise! And I cannot pen down in words how proud I am of that little 'cool' moon-faced girl who took my breath away from the very instant I first laid my eyes on her. Two decades of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan—wow! Aashirwads and duas I wish for you more goodness and blessings; much more than your heart can contain! Love you. Jeete raho. Rekha Ma.' Meanwhile, Aishwarya and Abhishek have been in the limelight for their alleged divorce. Rumours claimed that the couple is headed for a divorce; however, both Abhishek and Aishwarya remained quiet. They put a full stop to the rumours when they appeared together for their daughter's annual day function.
Gulf News
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra announce pregnancy with a warm post
The Bollywood couple declared that their greatest gift of their lives is on its way Last updated: February 28, 2025 | 14:13 2 MIN READ Actors Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra (Image source: Instagram @kiaraaliaadvani) It's official! Bollywood couple Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani are expecting their first child. Putting all rumors to rest, the duo took to Instagram to share the joyous news. Their post features a touching moment—both holding their palms together, cradling a pair of tiny knitted baby socks adorned with satin bows. Their caption reads: " The greatest gift of our lives. Coming soon," accompanied by a red heart, an evil eye, and folded hands emoji. The announcement follows a viral video of the couple enjoying a vacation, which had fans buzzing. The clip, set in an open-air restaurant in Europe, captured the stylish pair relaxing before being warmly interrupted by excited fans clicking pictures. Kiara's choice of a flowy yellow kaftan now makes perfect sense—hinting at the news they had kept under wraps. The couple, who tied the knot in a dreamy Rajasthan wedding on February 7, 2023, have been Bollywood's beloved sweethearts ever since their romance bloomed on the sets of Shershaah . Known for keeping their personal lives private, Kiara previously shared in a 2023 interview with Femina that she and Sidharth were keen on protecting their relationship. "Before we were married, it was an issue because we wanted to protect our relationship. We are both self-made actors and have earned our spaces in the industry on our own. It's something that we've put so much hard work into that we would not want it to be taken away by having the focus shift to our personal lives," she explained. Sign up for the Daily Briefing Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox
