Beating out 32 contestants from countries across the globe, Miss India Oman 2015 Stephanie Lohale was crowned Miss India Worldwide at the pageant’s grand finale at the Lalit Hotel in Mumbai Sept. 5.
“I don’t know where to begin,” Lohale, who was also the first runner-up at Miss India United Arab Emirates, posted on Facebook Sept. 8. “I’m so immensely happy and blessed. Thank you so so much to every single one of you, my supporters and everyone that truly believed in me. THANK YOU! It’s going to be one heck of a year!! So stay tuned for more, love you all.”
A design studies student at Heriot Watt University in Dubai, Lohale, 19, was the youngest contestant at the pageant this year, according to Muscat Daily.
The teenager told Muscat Daily she wants to contribute back to society with the help of the crown and spent most of her time mentally and physically preparing to win.
“I do a lot of running and attend zumba classes to stay fit. But I feel that success comes easily when you have good thoughts. You need to have the right mindset and attitude, and always feel good about yourself…That’s when a lot of doors open for you. Meditation has helped me in that sense. It’s essential to know the basis of success before venturing out to seize it,” she said.
India’s Miss India 2015 Apeksha Porwal was the first runner-up while the second runner-up was Miss India South Africa 2015 Shivani Govender.
The winners were crowned by last year’s Indian American winner from the U.S., Monica Gill.
The pageant also gave out several subtitle awards to contestants for specific qualities, such as friendliness. Miss India Netherlands 2015 Soesoe Mustafa was crowned Miss Congeniality, Miss India Qatar Jyotsna Arora was crowned Miss Talented, and Miss India Indonesia Grace Walia was awarded the title “Miss Bollywood Diva” at the 24th edition of the pageant.
