大象传媒

Kristianne Shankar was hoping to become Miss India UK.

She saw off the challenge of 300 other hopefuls and made the final 24!

Kristianne, of Scawsby, near Doncaster, made it through to the final of the Miss India UK contest, seeing off the challenges of hundred's of hopefuls.

The UK finals took place in Leicester, with the International finals taking place in Delhi later his year.

Kristianne came top of the viewers choice for the competition and received around 2500 votes, accounting for 35% of all the public text votes.

Despite her popularity she didn't receive enough judge's votes to be crowned Miss India UK.

Kristianne popped in for a chat with 大象传媒 Sheffield breakfast presenter Everard Davy days before the final.

So, your dad sent a photo in and now you're one of the 24 finalists?

That's correct, over 300 girls applied, I had no idea my dad was entering me into this competition. I was picked as one of the final 50, now I'm down to the final 24, so it's really exciting!

So this isn't Miss India, it's Miss India UK?

Yes, to qualify you must have at least one parent of Indian origin, which is the case with me, most parents of the girls are both of Indian origin.

I'm actually from a mixed race background, half Indian half English. The organisers are looking for an ambassador for Indian women in British society.

It's a funny thing though, isn't it a beauty contest? Don't you have to parade around in bathing suits?

Ah, well there's no bikini round in this competition, people (judges) are looking for women of substance, it's not only girls that look the part but those that are intelligent too.

How do they tell that from your photograph then?

Well, at the auditions there is a question and answer round, the auditions were really enjoyable actually, I got to meet a lot of really nice girls and lots of us are in the finals now聟 I really enjoyed it!

But there is a beauty element?

Kristianne enjoys strutting her stuff on the catwalk

There is an element of that, yes, I will do two catwalks, one in a traditional Eastern outfit and one in an English outfit, full length.

Then we also have to perform a talent, and there's a question and answer round! I'm going to sing All That Jazz from the musical Chicago.

How do you feel strutting up and down the catwalk?

I enjoy the process actually, and enjoy the Q & A round even more. It gives me a chance to show exactly what I'm made of and show who I am.

You do a bit of broadcasting don't you?

I do a little bit of children's presenting for a local TV station in North Yorkshire, it's entirely voluntary at the minute but I really enjoy what I do yes!

You've also got an honours degree in Psychology? It's just that some women would say you wouldn't do this if you had any intelligence聟

Yeah, I have heard people with that opinion but I think Miss India UK is slightly different in that they're hoping to get rid of all the cheese.

No one is saying that they want world peace and they want to save animals, be kind to children, none of that... it's about real lives and real people!

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